1. Great crested grebe - Podiceps cristatus
Great crested grebe is the largest member of the grebe family. The adult has a body length of 46-51 cm, a wingspan of 85-95 cm, and a weight of 570-1500 g. The body of a great crested grebe is thick, with a long neck and a narrow beak. The upper part of the head, back and wings are dark gray, the bottom of the body is white. During the nesting period, the male has a black bangs and "ear" tufts on its head.
The great crested grebe is a waterfowl. It is good at swimming and diving. On land, the great crested grebe moves slowly and clumsily. The great crested grebe is widespread in Eurasia, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand. In Ukraine, it nests throughout the territory, except for the Crimea.
The great crested grebe is a migratory bird. It winters in Southern Europe, Africa and Asia.
Great crested grebe nests on freshwater lakes, large ponds with reed banks, river beds. The nest is built on shallow water, among reeds or other coastal vegetation. There are 4-6 eggs in a nest of a great crested grebe. The eggs are incubated by the female and the male in turn. Chicks hatch after 23-25 days. After hatching, the chicks grow quickly and begin to fly after a few weeks.
Great crested grebe feeds on fish, insect larvae, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates. Great crested grebe is a fairly common species, but in some regions its number is decreasing. The reasons for this are pollution of water bodies, destruction of coastal plants and poaching.
In Ukraine, great crested grebe is listed in the Red Book in the status of "Unappreciated".
Photo: Volodymyr Kucherenko