Grebes

The Science of Birds · Ivan Phillipsen · Aug 30, 2026 · 1h 0m

What's in this episode

Episode 137 dives into the family Podicipedidae: the lobed toes and rear-set legs, the synchronized courtship dances, the surprising identity of grebes' closest relatives, why they swallow their own feathers, and how they raise chicks on floating nests.

Questions it answers

Is a grebe a duck?

No. Grebes aren't ducks, loons or coots. Ivan Phillipsen of The Science of Birds explains their lobed toes, feather-eating and wild courtship dances.

Answered on The Science of Birds

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