The grebes (Podicipediformes), like divers, are water-birds, but instead of having a connected web, each of the toes is fringed separately. They build floating nests directly on the water and their eggs when laid are unspotted chalky white. Some species have ornamental nuptial plumes on the head in the form of collars, horns or ears. When leaving the nest grebes cover the 3 to 10 eggs with wet vegetation, to hide or keep them warm. The chicks are able to swim shortly after hatching, but they are often carried about on their parents' back until they are quite large. They feed chiefly on fish. With the exception of the Arctic regions, the grebes, comprising the single family Podicipedidae, are to be found throughout the world.

The great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus, inhabits the waters of Eurasia, Africa, Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. It is easily distinguished from the ducks by its slender neck and dagger-like bill, and in spring by the ruff and two "horns" on the head. Its upper parts are blackish brown, and the underparts are silvery white. The winter plumage is much simpler.

A ceremonial courtship, comprising several stages all of which take place on the water, precedes actual nesting. The female lays 3-6 chalk-white eggs which gradually acquire a brownish hue from the rotting vegetation, hatching after a period of 25 days. The adults carry the chicks concealed among their back feathers, and can even dive with the young aboard. The great crested grebe is not fond of flight, but when airborne it flies fast and straight. Northern grebe populations winter in Africa and southern Asia.

The eared or black-necked grebe, Podiceps nigricollis, is about 1 ft long. In spring the head and neck are black with reddish yellow ear-tufts; the flanks are reddish, the underparts white and the upper parts black. It is distributed throughout almost the whole of Europe, extending far into Asia, and is found also in the Far East, South Africa and western North America. It feeds chiefly on water insects and nests in colonies which many contain several hundred nests. The female lays 3-5 eggs. As with most birds, repeat clutches, produced if the first eggs have been destroyed, contain a smaller number of eggs.

The little grebe, Podiceps ruficollis, is 2 inches long. In its breeding plumage the front of the neck is chestnut, the corners of the bill are yellow-green, the feathers on the upper parts dark brown and a little paler below. It is to be found even in small overgrown ponds in Europe, Asia, Africa and Indonesia, and most of the Old World Pacific islands. It is not gregarious, preferring to build its nest in a concealed spot amount reeds or other water plants. The clutch contains 3-6 eggs. Immediately on hatching the young chick conceals itself under the adult's wing or among the back feathers where it remains several days, occasionally venturing on to the water by itself. In winter grebes migrate south from their northern quarters. In more southerly climes both migrant and resident species are found during the winter.