Michele Mendi

The largest grebe in Europe, breeding on fresh or brackish waters in various types of natural and artificial shallow wetlands with abundant vegetation and with large areas of open water. Outside breeding season occurs on ice-free exposed wetlands (lakes, reservoirs) or coastal waters. Its breeding range covers most of Europe (excl. extreme N parts), C & E Asia, parts of Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Intra-Eurasian partial migrant. Largely resident or dispersive in W & S Europe and fully migratory in N & E Europe (Llimona et al. 2020).

Its population trend in Europe is uncertain. Evaluated as “Least Concern” (BirdLife International 2021).

Season of assessment

B

Population trendStable
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		772000-1060000,903000
Red List categoryLC
Franks, S., Fiedler, W., Arizaga, J., Jiguet, F., Nikolov, B., van der Jeugd, Ambrosini, R, Aizpurua, O., Bairlein, F., Clark, J., Fattorini, N, Hammond, M., Higgins, D, Levering, H., Skellorn, W., Spina, F, Thorup, K. Walker, J., Woodward, I. and Baillie, S.R. (1) (2022) Online Atlas of the movements of European bird populations. https://migrationatlas.org EURING/CMS (1) Principal investigator
Map

Overall Connectivity for Great Crested Grebe

Possible weak migratory divide in C Europe (Germany). The birds from N & E Europe migrate mostly SE & S – towards the Black Sea region, covering the longest distances; very few birds from the Baltic region migrate SW. Many W European and Danish breeders travel SW, overwintering in the North Sea and English Channel regions. Some birds breeding in The Netherlands and in C Europe migrate S & SE reaching either the big pre-alpine lakes or the Mediterranean region. Lots of W European breeders are resident or locally dispersive. Those breeding in UK take short routes towards the coast, very few move to France. Birds breeding in Iberian Peninsula move short within-region distances, some heading S to Morocco or even N & NE.

Majority of birds ringed at very few locations, largely during 1980-90s.

Recoveries by Condition for Great Crested Grebe

Persecuted in Europe in 19th and early 20th century (O’Donnel & Fjeldså 1997). Currently protected species in Europe. Before 1960 about 44% of all recoveries were from birds found dead and more than a third (35%) – as a result of shooting/ hunting; the latter factor was subsequently reduced largely to just 1% for the next 30 years. Fishing nets are major cause of death – the birds get drowned when diving (Abt & Konter 2009, Keller et al. 2020).

Since 1960 more than 90% of all recoveries come from alive birds, identified by other means (not ringing).

The main part of the ringing recoveries come from birds originating in W & C Europe due to the special efforts applied in that region. A difficult species to trap, majority of birds ringed at very few locations.

Annual Movements for Great Crested Grebe

In the Netherlands territorial males have been found back to their breeding grounds as early as Jan (van der Poel 1985). In UK the spring return of the birds starts from mid-Feb, while in most other parts of Europe it happens in late Mar – early Apr; in northernmost part of species’ range the breeding territories are occupied in early May. The species undergoes a flightless wing-moulting period in late summer and autumn (Aug to Oct), either staying on the breeding grounds or moving to large wetlands to form – sometimes big, concentrations; more prominent movements towards coastal areas are taking place after moult (BirdLife International 2021). The largest autumn and winter gatherings have been recorded in The Netherlands (IJsselmeer), Denmark, the lakes of Switzerland, the Baltic Sea and the Turkish coast of Black Sea (O’Donnel & Fjeldså 1997, Llimona et al. 2020).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Great Crested Grebe

Those birds breeding in N & E Europe and migrating SE are encountered in SW Russia and inland Ukraine Sep-Oct, reaching the Black Sea region as early as Aug but mostly between Nov and Mar, some of them staying until May; those heading S & SW are found along the Mediterranean, the region of the Alps and W Europe Nov-Mar. UK breeders reach the local coastal areas as early as Aug, spending the winter there mostly Nov-Mar. Birds breeding in W & C Europe are encountered on their wintering grounds mostly between Nov and Mar – the Atlantic Coast, the big pre-alpine lakes and the Mediterranean.

Post-breeding dispersion of the birds breeding in S Iberian Peninsula involves movements in various directions, many of them spending the winter on local coastal areas and Morocco mostly Sep-Feb.

Boris Nikolov

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries
References Map
2020 . European Breeding Bird Atlas 2: Distribution, Abundance and Change. European Bird Census Council & Lynx Edicions, BarcelonaEditor(s): Keller, V., S. Herrando, P. Voříšek, et al.
Abt K., Konter A. 2009 . Survival rates of adult European grebes (Podicipedidae). Ardea 97: 313–321
BirdLife International2021 . Species factsheet: Podiceps cristatus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/02/2021
Llimona, F., J. del Hoyo, D. A. Christie, F. Jutglar, and G. M. Kirwan2020 . Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World Link to Article (DOI: https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.grcgre1.01) Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USAEditor(s): J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana
O’Donnel, C. and Fjeldså, J.1997 . Grebes - Status Surwey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Grebe Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK
van der Poel, A. M.1985 . Is de stadsfuut (Podiceps cristatus) echt anders?. Het Vogeljaar 33: 97–106

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