female Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) feeding a dry contour feather to its 4-day old chick

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An unusual behaviour found in most grebes, but particularly in Great Crested Grebes, is the habitual ingestion of feathers. The reason for this behaviour is unproven, but it has been postulated that feathers aid pellet formation for the ejection of parasites and indigestible material such as fish bones or to act as a kind of strainer to help prevent bones leaving the stomach before they have been properly digested or ejected from the mouth in a pellet. Feeding on feathers is particularly marked during the first couple of weeks after hatching. During the time I was watching this grebe family about 90% of the items presented to the chick were contour feathers. These were usually wetted before being given to the chick but were also presented dry, as shown here.

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Size: 5472px × 3648px
Location: Attenborough Nature Centre, Barton Lane, Attenborough, Beeston, United Kingdom
Photo credit: © Ray Wilson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, aves, avian, bird, chick, crested, cristatus, eating, family, feather, feeding, female, food, great, grebe, head, incubating, nature, nest, nesting, offering, parent, podiceps, podicipedidae, poking, presenting, sitting, stripy, waterbird, wildlife, young