Podicipedidae
Also known as the grebe family, grebe
Grebes () are aquatic diving birds in the order Podicipediformes (). Grebes are widely distributed freshwater birds, with some species also found in marine habitats during migration and winter. Most grebes fly, although some flightless species exist, most notably in stable lakes. The order contains a single family, the Podicipedidae, which includes 22 species in six extant genera.
AI overview
Podicipedidae is the family of aquatic diving birds commonly known as grebes, which are found in freshwater habitats around the world and sometimes in ocean environments during winter and migration. The family contains 22 species across six genera, most of which can fly, though a few flightless species live in stable lakes.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Species
grebes
Podicipedidae
FAMILY
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassAves
- OrderPodicipediformes
- FamilyPodicipedidae
Habitatmarine, brackish, freshwater
Observations recorded19,188,267
via GBIF
~23 min read
Article
18 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Field characteristics
- Anatomy and physiology
- Feathers
- Systematics
- Fossil record
- Phylogeny
- Recent species listing
- Natural history
- Habitat, distribution and migration
- Feeding ecology
- Breeding and reproduction
- Parasitology
- Conservation
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Grebes () are aquatic diving birds in the order Podicipediformes (). Grebes are widely distributed freshwater birds, with some species also found in marine habitats during migration and winter. Most grebes fly, although some flightless species exist, most notably in stable lakes. The order contains a single family, the Podicipedidae, which includes 22 species in six extant genera.
Although, superficially, they resemble other diving birds such as loons and coots, they are most closely related to flamingos, as supported by morphological, molecular and paleontological data. Many species are monogamous and are known for their courtship discipline, with the pair performing synchronized dances across the water's surface. The birds build floating vegetative nests where they lay several eggs. About a third of the world's grebes are listed at various levels of conservation concerns—the biggest threats including habitat loss, the introduction of invasive predatory fish and human poaching. As such, three species have gone extinct.