Slavonian Grebe

Name: Slavonian Grebe

Scientific name: Podiceps auritus

Category: Birds

Nature Stars: 80

What are nature stars?

About: Grebes are diving waterbirds, feeding on small fish and aquatic invertebrates. A small grebe, about the same size as a Moorhen. Slavonian Grebe is one of Britain's rarest nesting birds.

How to identify: Easily identified in breeding plumage by the combination of yellow 'horns', black cheeks and red neck and flanks. Winter plumage is dark above and white below, very similar to other grebes.

Where: A very rare nesting bird on a few lochs in Scotland. Can be seen on the sea around most coasts in the winter and also turns up on lakes and reservoirs.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 60
• Agility: 50
• Rarity: 90
• Cute factor: 70
• Traveller: 80

Fantastic fact: Known in America as the Horned Grebe.

Photograph credit: Talis Quails