Grebes - Podicipedidae

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus: known in French as le grebe huppé (='the crested grebe'). This is the largest grebe species and is commonly seen on the many fresh water étangs (fish ponds) in the area. It is a rather upright and pointy bird, with a distinctive red brown and black ruff and black 'ears' in the summertime. In the winter it is a neatly dressed dark brown and pure white. They prefer the larger water bodies as they are specialist fish hunters. This species is famous for its elaborate courtship displays in the spring. The performance involves head shaking and bobbing, presenting gifts of waterweed and rearing up breast to breast. The photo below was taken on the Etang de la mer rouge in the Brenne, June.