Using their large feet and agile strides, the Western Grebe can perform remarkable feats.
The Western Grebe is the only bird capable of running on water. (Photo: Wikipedia).
Running on Water is a limit for humans, as well as most other animals due to the effect of gravity. Therefore, most animals capable of this are small insects or some species of lizards.
However, by utilizing their large feet and quick strides, the Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis), and the Grebe family in general, can easily run up to 20 meters on the water’s surface.
Interestingly, they do not use this unique ability to hunt. Instead, “running on water” is part of the courtship dance of this bird as a way to attract mates. This movement often occurs before mating and nest-building behaviors in grebes.
Slow-motion image showing the unique movement of this bird.
This bird primarily inhabits North America. They are quite large, with adult birds averaging 75 cm in length and weighing between 1 – 2 kg, featuring a mix of black and white colors along with a long, slender neck resembling that of a swan.
Science has recorded them as the heaviest animals, as well as the only bird capable of performing this impressive feat.
In 2015, a group of American scientists analyzed high-speed camera footage to uncover the “secret” behind these birds. They discovered that the grebes rely heavily on their large feet as paddles and their rapid walking to achieve this miracle.
Specimens from this species also show that they possess “feet” with wide lobes. When they want to perform their dance, grebes slap their feet down on the water, generating about half the force needed to counteract the gravitational pull from their bodies.
A Western Grebe swimming on the lake. (Photo: Wikipedia).
Some studies suggest that the way they lift their feet off the water and then move slightly to the side is also necessary to minimize friction. However, this alone is not enough. To move on the water’s surface, grebes must also move their feet at a very high speed, reaching up to 20 steps per second.
This allows an adult grebe to run for about 7 seconds on water, equivalent to 120 steps.
Although this duration may not seem long, it is truly impressive for a large and heavy bird like the grebe. Some scientists even refer to their ability as “magic.”
The population of grebes in North America has been declining over the past two decades due to hunting and habitat destruction. Among the primary causes of this situation is oil spills.
