---
title: "Great Crested Grebe"
description: "Podiceps cristatus — Birds. The great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) is a member of the grebe family of water birds."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/great-crested-grebe
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Great Crested Grebe

> Podiceps cristatus — Birds. The great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) is a member of the grebe family of water birds.

- Scientific name: *Podiceps cristatus*
- Category: `birds` (Birds)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Lakes & rivers)
- iNaturalist observations: 114677
- Wikidata: [Q25422](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25422)
- iNaturalist taxon: [4208](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4208)

## Names

- en: Great Crested Grebe
- de: Haubentaucher
- es: Somormujo lavanco
- fr: Grèbe huppé
- nl: Fuut
- pt: Mergulhão-de-crista
- pl: Perkoz dwuczuby

## Countries with the most observations

RU (32918), GB (9518), DE (8953), FR (6758), IT (6640), NL (4690), ES (3893), CH (3597), AU (3055), UA (2224), CN (2020), BE (1724)

## Summary

The great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) is a member of the grebe family of water birds. The bird is characterised by its distinctive appearance, featuring striking black, orange-brown, and white plumage, and elaborate courtship display that involves synchronised dances and displays.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_crested_grebe

## Photo

![Great Crested Grebe](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/great-crested-grebe/medium.jpg)

Photo: M. B. · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/341909121

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/great-crested-grebe?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).