Head to head
Great Grebe vs Silvery Grebe
Great Grebe
VS Silvery Grebe
Both grebes share southern South American wetlands, but they differ in size, habitat tolerance, and nesting behaviour.
| Great Grebe | Silvery Grebe | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Podiceps major | Podiceps occipitalis |
| Size | The largest South American grebe | Considerably smaller |
| Habitat tolerance | Both fresh and coastal marine water | Not documented as tolerating marine water |
| Nesting behaviour | Not documented as colonial | Dense, sociable colonies |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Neck | Long and slender | Not documented as distinctively long |
| Habitat | Wetlands, coastal | Wetlands, coastal |
Great Grebe vs Silvery Grebe: common questions
Which one is larger?
The great grebe is larger, the biggest grebe species found in South America, noticeably bigger than the silvery grebe.
Which one breeds in dense colonies?
The silvery grebe breeds this way, nesting in dense, sociable colonies unusual among grebes, unlike the great grebe, which is not documented nesting colonially.
Which one can tolerate coastal marine water?
The great grebe can do this, moving comfortably between freshwater lakes and sheltered coastal marine habitat, an unusually broad tolerance not documented for the silvery grebe.