Birds: Great Crested Grebe. Podiceps cristatus. The long-necked grebe, especially in its breeding costume, attracts attention with its red collar and ear feathers that can be raised on both sides of its black crest. It is less ornamented outside of breeding, its white cheeks and black eyespots are prominent. Its beak is pink. It prefers fresh inland waters during breeding season. Grebe that spends the winter in inland waters and on the seashore can form colonies. It nests in reed beds just 15-20 cm above the water. Grebe mostly feeds on fish, and in the summer months also feeds on shelled and non-shelled aquatic invertebrates such as mussels and shrimps. In addition to the typical behaviors of grebes, the most interesting aspects are their courtship behaviors.
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