Podicipediformes is an order of aquatic diving birds commonly known as grebes, widely distributed across freshwater habitats with some species also found in marine waters during migration and winter. The order contains a single family, Podicipedidae, with 22 species in six living genera, and while most grebes fly, a few flightless species exist, mainly on stable lakes.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Scientific Name Member Species/Taxa Count Geographic DistributionNearly cosmopolitan, on every continent except Antarctica 1 Defining CharacteristicsLobed toes, excellent swimmers and divers 1 Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceSmall to medium-large birds 1 Sources
1. Grebe, Wikipedia
Lead paragraph, order
Grebes are aquatic diving birds in the order Podicipediformes.
Lead paragraph, family
The order contains a single family, the Podicipedidae, which includes 22 species in six extant genera.
Habitat, distribution and migration
Grebes are a nearly cosmopolitan clade of waterbirds, found on every continent except Antarctica.
Anatomy and physiology
All species have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers.
Field characteristics
Grebes are small to medium-large in size
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