A duck-sized diving bird which swims low in the water, showing only its back, neck and head. They have a characteristic crest and long chestnut-coloured feathers on both sides of the face, which get darker towards the tips. Like the Little Grebe, it builds a floating nest and will often carry its chicks on its back whilst swimming. They feed on small amphibians and young fish and are present in Extremadura throughout the year, being more numerous in the winter.