Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Podiceps cristatus

Podiceps cristatus

9.9
A large water bird with black ear tufts that lives on lakes
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Podiceps cristatus
  • Birdwatchers were delighted to spot a pair of Podiceps cristatus displaying their elaborate courtship ritual.

Examples

  • The Podiceps cristatus breeds on freshwater lakes throughout Europe and Asia.

  • The black ear tufts are a distinctive feature of the Podiceps cristatus during the breeding season.

  • Look at that Podiceps cristatus!

  • The Podiceps cristatus is known for its elaborate courtship displays.

  • Birdwatchers were delighted to spot a pair of Podiceps cristatus displaying their elaborate courtship ritual.

  • The Podiceps cristatus breeds on freshwater lakes throughout Europe and Asia.

  • The black ear tufts are a distinctive feature of the Podiceps cristatus during the breeding season.

Synonyms

great crested grebe
vsPodiceps cristatus
  • UK
9.5

A large water bird with black ear tufts and fancy head feathers

is the Latin scientific name used in formal biological classification

Surface Forms

Podiceps cristatus singular
Podiceps cristatuses plural

Morphology

Podiceps + cristatus

The first element 'Podiceps' corresponds to a group of water birds (grebes), while 'cristatus' is a Latin adjective meaning 'crested' but is not given in the data and relies on knowledge of Latin morphology. As a taxonomic binomial the name is partly compositional—if a learner knew both constituents (including the Latin epithet) they could infer 'crested grebe'—but for an average B1 learner this requires specialized/Latin knowledge, so the expression is only partly transparent.

Etymology

Podiceps cristatus comes from Latin words: podiceps from words meaning 'rear' and 'foot', because the bird's legs are set far back, and cristatus meaning 'crested' for its showy head feathers. So the name gives a simple picture — a water bird with back-set legs and a crest, which helps you remember this species.