Great crested grebe

    Podiceps cristatus

Castilian: Somormujo lavanco

Catalan: Cabussó emplomallat

Gallego: Mergullón cristado

Euskera: Murgil handia

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Podicipediformes

Family: Podicipedidae

Migratory status: Permanent resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

On the National List of Threatened Species, it appears in the “Of Special Interest” category.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

listen song

THREATS

Because of its tendency to raise its young in reservoirs, the main problem is the unpredictable changes in water level that occur that can wash the nests away or leave them dry, affecting the success of the brood. The disturbances caused by recreational boating and fishmermen should also be taken into account.

Length / size: 46-51 cm / 85-90 cm

Identification: It is the largest of the grebes in Spain. It has a long neck and bill, and in winter the colour of its back is dark, while the neck, head and bottom parts are lighter in colour. It is more eye-catching in summer due to the two black crests it has on its head and the long reddish and black feathers that come out of its cheeks.

Song: It makes varied, far-reaching, nasal sounds that sound like "grhey" and "crraaa-ahrr".

Diet: It mostly feeds on fish that it captures by diving, although it also sometimes eats insects and larvae.

Reproduction: The type of courtship is peculiar, given that they perform simultaneous ritual movements, and can even stand above the water for a few seconds. Both sexes build the nest, hidden among the vegetation on the bank, and they both also are responsible for incubating the eggs. Chicks leave the nest a few hours after hatching and climb onto the adult's back to move about and look for food.

HABITAT

It occupies wet areas, both inland and coastal, with open waters, medium depth, and an abundance of fish.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: It is distributed throughout the entire country,except in the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla.

In Castile and León: It is distributed throughout the entire community. During breeding season, the most abundant populations are found in Burgos, León, Palencia and Salamanca.

Movements and migrations: The species can behave as sedentary or partially migratory. The northernmost populations tend to move south to places that do not freeze during winter. In Europe, wintering concentrations in certain wetlands (for example, the Bay of Cádiz) are common.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 2300-3400 breeding pairs (1997 data).

In Castile and León: There is an estimated population of 450-600 breeding pairs.