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is this great crested grebe a solitary duck?
There is a great crested grebe in the lake near where I live. I have never seen more than one at one time. If the duck is the only of its species in the lake, how will it mate? I believe this species often migrate in winter to such areas as this.
1 Answer
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
Grebes aren't actually ducks, but are in a different group known as Podicidpediformes. Instead of having a fully webbed foot like ducks, grebes have flattened lobes on each toe that help them swim.
They do indeed need at least one other grebe (of the opposite sex) to breed. If there is actually only one grebe on your lake, then it's unlikely to be successful in raising a family.
However, it's possible that you are only seeing the male, which often puts on territorial displays, and the female is simply hiding in the emergent shoreline vegetation. They can be quite secretive.
But, if your lake has only one grebe, at least there are many other lakes where pairs are able to find one another. One census estimates 210 - 300 thousand breeding pairs throughout Europe.