The Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) is the largest of the grebes. It has a long neck and head with a distinctive black and chestnut double crest, and has its lobed feet set well back on its body, so is clumsy on land and rarely leaves the water. Great Crested Grebes form monogamous pairs and are famous for their spectacular courtship displays. Grebes build floating nests of waterweeds, and add to their nest throughout the breeding season.

The female is slightly smaller than the male, and both sexes rear their chicks. When small, the cute striped chicks are carried on the back of one parent while the other dives for small fish or other prey, which are fed to the young. Young grebe chicks often jump into the water in their enthusiasm to be fed, and then struggle to climb back on to their parent’s back between feeds. This pair of Great Crested Grebes was videoed caring for their two cute, striped chicks on Herdsman Lake in Perth, Western Australia, in November 2019.