Birds
Great Grebe
Podiceps major · also called great grebes
Equally at home diving through a freshwater lake or a sheltered coastal inlet, a great grebe is the largest of South America’s grebes, its long, elegant neck and sharp bill cutting a more refined silhouette than most of its diving relatives.
Overview
The great grebe, Podiceps major, is a Least Concern waterbird native to wetland and coastal habitat across southern South America, from Chile and Argentina northward into parts of the continent. Its status as the largest South American grebe, its unusual tolerance for both fresh and coastal marine water, and its elegant build make it one of the more physically distinctive diving waterbirds found anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere.
A grebe that crosses the salt line
While most grebes commit firmly to either fresh water or the sea, the great grebe moves comfortably between both, a flexibility that has helped it become the largest and among the most widespread grebe species found anywhere in South America.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and generally stable across suitable freshwater and coastal habitat throughout southern South America.
Great Grebe: common questions
How does the great grebe compare in size with the silvery grebe?
This species is the largest grebe species found in South America, noticeably bigger than the closely related silvery grebe, which shares much of the same wetland habitat.
Can the great grebe live in the ocean?
Yes, this species is capable of using both freshwater lakes and sheltered coastal marine habitat, an unusually broad tolerance compared with many other grebe species restricted to fresh water.
What does the great grebe look like?
This species has a notably long, slender neck and a sharply pointed bill, giving it a more elegant silhouette than several other, more compact grebe species.
How does the great grebe build its nest?
This species constructs a floating nest anchored to aquatic vegetation, allowing the nest to rise and fall safely with changing water levels rather than being fixed to the shoreline.