Podiceps
Encyclopedia
Podiceps is a genus of bird
s in the grebe
family.
It has representatives breeding in Europe
, Asia
, North
and South America
. Most northern hemisphere
species migrate
in winter to the coast or warmer climates.
They breed in vegetated areas of freshwater lakes, nesting on the water's edge, since their legs are set too far back for easy walking. Usually two eggs
are laid, and the striped young may be carried on the adult's back.
All the genus are excellent swimmers and divers, and pursue their fish prey underwater.
Adults have striking breeding plumage, with no difference between the sexes. In winter, the plumage is subdued whites and greys.
One of the very oldest fossil
grebes known to date actually belongs to this genus. Altogether - as in all grebes - the fossil record leaves much to be desired, being quite complete for the last 5 million years before present or so, but very incomplete before the Pliocene
.
Fossil species of Podiceps are:
Among the material assigned to P. parvus were bones of another species, which may or may not belong into this genus (Murray 1967).
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s in the grebe
Grebe
A grebe is a member of the Podicipediformes order, a widely distributed order of freshwater diving birds, some of which visit the sea when migrating and in winter...
family.
It has representatives breeding in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, North
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. Most northern hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
species migrate
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
in winter to the coast or warmer climates.
They breed in vegetated areas of freshwater lakes, nesting on the water's edge, since their legs are set too far back for easy walking. Usually two eggs
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
are laid, and the striped young may be carried on the adult's back.
All the genus are excellent swimmers and divers, and pursue their fish prey underwater.
Adults have striking breeding plumage, with no difference between the sexes. In winter, the plumage is subdued whites and greys.
Systematics
The Black-necked, Colombian, Silvery and Junin Grebes are very closely related and were formerly sometimes separated as the genus Dyas. The Great Grebe has also sometimes been separated as the sole member of the genus Podicephorus.- Red-necked GrebeRed-necked GrebeThe Red-necked Grebe is a migratory aquatic bird found in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Its wintering habitat is largely restricted to calm waters just beyond the waves around ocean coasts, although some birds may winter on large lakes...
, Podiceps grisegena - Great Crested GrebeGreat Crested GrebeThe Great Crested Grebe is a member of the grebe family of water birds.- Description :The Great Crested Grebe is long with a wingspan. It is an excellent swimmer and diver, and pursues its fish prey underwater. The adults are unmistakable in summer with head and neck decorations...
, Podiceps cristatus - Horned Grebe or Slavonian Grebe, Podiceps auritus
- Black-necked GrebeBlack-necked GrebeThe Black-necked Grebe, Podiceps nigricollis, known in North America as the Eared Grebe, is a member of the grebe family of water birds. It occurs on every continent except Australia and Antarctica.-Taxonomy:There are three subspecies:*P. n...
or Eared Grebe, Podiceps nigricollis - Colombian GrebeColombian GrebeThe Colombian Grebe , was a grebe found in the Bogotá wetlands in the Eastern Andes of Colombia. The species was still abundant on Lake Tota in 1945. The species has occasionally been considered a subspecies of Black-necked Grebe The Colombian Grebe (Podiceps andinus), was a grebe (aquatic...
, Podiceps andinus - extinct (1977) - Great GrebeGreat GrebeThe Great Grebe is the largest species of grebe on earth. A disjunct population exists in northwestern Peru, while the main distribution is from extreme southeastern Brazil to Patagonia and central Chile. The population from southern Chile is considered a separate subspecies, P. m. navasi.This...
, Podiceps major - Silvery GrebeSilvery GrebeThe Silvery Grebe is a species of grebe in the Podicipedidae family.It is found in Argentina, Chile, the Falkland Islands and Paraguay as well as Andean regions of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. It is a vagrant to Brazil....
, Podiceps occipitalis - Junin Grebe, Podiceps taczanowskii
- Hooded GrebeHooded GrebeThe Hooded Grebe , is a medium-sized grebe found in the southern region of South America. It grows to about 34 cm in length, and is black and white in color...
, Podiceps gallardoi
One of the very oldest fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
grebes known to date actually belongs to this genus. Altogether - as in all grebes - the fossil record leaves much to be desired, being quite complete for the last 5 million years before present or so, but very incomplete before the Pliocene
Pliocene
The Pliocene Epoch is the period in the geologic timescale that extends from 5.332 million to 2.588 million years before present. It is the second and youngest epoch of the Neogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Pliocene follows the Miocene Epoch and is followed by the Pleistocene Epoch...
.
Fossil species of Podiceps are:
- Podiceps oligocaenus (John Day Late Oligocene/Early Miocene)
- Podiceps cf. auritus (Early Pliocene of Florida, USA) - formerly P. pisanus, P. howardae and Pliodytes lanquisti
- Podiceps subparvus (Middle Pliocene of California, USA)
- Podiceps discors (Late Pliocene of WC USA)
- Podiceps? sp. (Late Pliocene of WC USA) - see Murray (1967)
- Podiceps sp. (Early Pleistocene of Dursunlu, Turkey) - see Louchart et al. (1998)
- Podiceps dixi (Late Pleistocene)
- Podiceps parvus (Late Pleistocene of W North America)
Among the material assigned to P. parvus were bones of another species, which may or may not belong into this genus (Murray 1967).