Great Crested Grebe is a widespread and locally common native species in Australia and can be found in most wetland habitats, both freshwater and saline. In New Zealand it is restricted to South Island where its population is in the region of 200 birds.
They breed mostly on large, shallow bodies of water fringed with abundant emergent vegetation and a stable water level to prevent their floating nests being overwhelmed by rising water.
Their diet is almost entirely piscivorous, although they do supplement their fish diet with aquatic invertebrates (such as dragonfly nymphs and diving beetles) and crustaceans (eg. crayfish and shrimps). Almost all prey items are caught underwater during dives.
On their wintering grounds and during migration they often gather in large flocks. The australis subspecies found in Australia and New Zealand retains the breeding plumage throughout the year and does not attain the dull non-breeding plumage found in the Northern Hemisphere subspecies.
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