grebe

[greeb]

noun

1. any diving bird of the family Podicipedidae, related to the loons, but having a rudimentary tail and lobate rather than webbed toes.

grebe

/ ɡriːb /

noun

1. any aquatic bird, such as Podiceps cristatus ( great crested grebe ), of the order Podicipediformes, similar to the divers but with lobate rather than webbed toes and a vestigial tail

Word History and Origins

Origin of grebe¹

First recorded in 1760–70, grebe is from the French word grèbe < ?

Word History and Origins

Origin of grebe¹

C18: from French grèbe, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

These flies and brine shrimp are essential food for migratory birds including eared grebes, Wilson’s phalaropes and California gulls.

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And populations of once-numerous birds such as American white pelicans, double-breasted cormorants and eared grebes have declined.

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Both rescue centers are also treating other seabirds ill from domoic acid, including the western grebes, brandt’s cormorants and red-throated loons, but brown pelicans have most frequently been sick.

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According to this revision, flamingos and their close relatives, grebes, belong to a group known as Mirandornithes, which branched off from other birds early on.

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The Coast Guard said three live birds — a cormorant, a loon and a grebe — were found sullied with oil and were being treated.

Read more on Seattle Times