Grebe , a lobe-footed bird of the family co-lynibidoe, and subfamily podicipnnoe, comprising the genera podiceps (Lath.) and podilym-bus (Lesson). The genus podiceps has a long, straight, and slender bill, the culmen slightly curved at the tip, which is sharp and entire, the sides compressed, and the nostrils longitudinal and in a short groove; the wings short and pointed, the first and second quills the longest and slightly emarginated near the tips; tail short, a mere tuft of loose feathers; tarsi shorter than the middle toe, much compressed, covered with scales serrated posteriorly; toes long, lobed on the sides, and united by webs at the base; hind toe short and broadly lobed; nails short, broad, flat, and obtuse. More than 20 species are described, in all parts of the world; they are usually seen in small flocks on the shores of fresh-water lakes and rivers and near the seacoast, and rarely on land, as the posterior position of the legs renders it very difficult for them to walk; they are excellent swimmers and expert divers, flying under water to a considerable depth in pursuit of fish; they are generally short and rapid flyers, but during their migrations the flight is elevated and long sustained; when alarmed, they hide among the reeds, or sink under water, leaving only the bill out, till the danger is over.

The food consists of fish and aquatic animals and plants; the nest is made of grasses, lined with down, attached to the reeds or floating; the eggs are three or four in number. The American species vary much in size; one of the largest is the crested grebe (P. cristatus, Lath.), 24 in. long, with an extent of wings of 33; the adult male has a blackish brown bill, about 2 1/2 in. long; upper part of head and crest, nape and upper plumage, blackish brown; the ruff, which birds of this genus have in the breeding season, is reddish brown ending in black; cheeks, throat, band before eye, humeral feathers, and secondaries white; fore part and sides of neck reddish brown; rest of under parts silvery white; primaries dark brown; iris bright carmine; in the females and young the crest is very slight, and the upper parts are tinged with gray. It is found along the Atlantic coast from the fur countries, where it breeds, southward, and as far as Texas in the winter, and also on the Pacific shore. All the species have the head rather small, the eyes near the bill, the neck long and slender, and the body flattened; the plumage is thick and soft, and silky on the under surface.

The red-necked grebe (P. griseigena, Gray), 18 in. long, is found from the fur countries as far south as Pennsylvania in the winter; it is a stouter bird, with shorter neck and smaller crest and ruff, than the preceding species. The largest known species is the western grebe (P. occidentalis, Lawrence), 29 in. long, with an extent of wings of 3 ft.; it inhabits the Pacific coast from Washington territory to California. The horned grebe (P. cornutus, Lath.) is about 14 in. long; the sides of the head are tufted, and of a yellowish red color; the feathers of the upper parts are margined with gray; throat glossy black; fore nock and upper breast chestnut red; lower parts shining white. It is very generally distributed over North America; it is known to gunners as the "hell diver," from its activity in diving; like that of all the grebes, the flesh has a strong fishy flavor, and is rarely eaten except by the northwest Indians, who also make under garments of the soft plumage of the lower parts. - In the genus podilymbus the bill is shorter than the head, strong, with the culmen much arched to the tip, which is hooked over the lower mandible; there are no ornamental ruffs.

Only two species are described, one in North and the other in South America, generally distributed over the temperate regions, preferring fresh water. The pied-bill grebe, or dobchick (P. podiceps, Lawr.; P. Carolinensis, Lath.), is 14 in. long, with a pale blue bill crossed by a black band; the upper plumage very dark brown; chin and throat with a black patch; cheeks, sides of neck, and abdomen grayish white, upper breast and sides rusty brown; the female has not the black patches.

Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus).