Vertebrate Zoology - V. M. Konstantinov 2011

Chordates
Terrestrial, or Tetrapod, Vertebrates — Vertebrates with Embryonic Membranes
Class Birds — Subclass Fan-tailed Birds, or True Birds — Superorder Neognathae, or Typical Birds — Order Podicipediformes

The order comprises a single family with 20 species. Phylogenetically, they are closely related to loons. Externally, they are easily distinguished by their smaller size and the fact that each toe is bordered by an independent wide cutaneous lobe. Among them, the great crested grebe, or grebe (Podiceps cristatus), is widely distributed.

Grebes feed primarily on aquatic insects and their larvae, and less frequently on crustaceans, Mollusks, and small fish. They dive for food to depths of up to 7 m. The nest is a raft made of various plant Materials and silt, featuring a shallow central depression. The clutch size ranges from 2 to 7 eggs. Incubation is shared by both the female and male for 23 days. When leaving the nest, they cover the eggs with plant matter. When sensing danger, the parents carry the chicks on their backs or tuck them under their wings when diving. Grebes spend almost their entire lives on the Water. To rest, they climb onto floating mats of vegetation or flattened reed beds. They fly reluctantly but fast, requiring a long running start across the water surface before takeoff. The meat of grebes is tough and unpalatable.