A grebe's flexible ankles and toes function much better as rudders and paddles than as feet. They pivot in nearly every direction, allowing the grebe to swim, turn, and dive quickly in the water, but the legs are so far back on the body that on land even standing is an effort. Flying is also difficult, and most species fly only, if at all, to migrate. Grebes have been known to strand themselves along roads when, mistaking wet patches for bodies of water, they land and are unable to maneuver well enough to take off.

Stan Osolinski/Oxford Scientific FilmsBBC Natural History Sound Library. All rights reserved.

"Pied-Billed Grebe," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 96 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1995 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

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