Western Grebe
(Aechmophorus occidentalis)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
|
||||||
| IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
||||||
| NatureServe | N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding SNRB - Unranked Breeding |
||||||
| Minnesota | Species in Greatest Conservation Need |
||||||
Description |
||
The upperparts are black. The cheek and underparts are white. The neck is black above, white below. The black crown and face extend down below the eyes. The bill is long, thin, and all greenish-yellow. |
||
Size |
||
20″ to 24″ in length 24″ wingspan |
||
Voice |
||
|
||
Similar Species |
||
Clark’s Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) eyes are surrounded by white plumage. The bill is bright yellow. Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) upperparts are dark gray, not black. The cheek and underparts are dingy gray, not white. The upper bill is dark. During breeding season adults have a rust-colored neck. |
||
Habitat |
||
Breeding: Areas of emergent or floating vegetation on large lakes Migration: Large, deep lakes |
||
Biology |
||
Migration |
||
Mid-April to early June and late August to mid-November |
||
Nesting |
||
|
||
Food |
||
Small fish and aquatic vertebrates |
||
Distribution |
||||
Occurrence |
||||
Uncommon to common migrant, local breeder |
||||
Maps |
||||
The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map |
||||
Taxonomy |
|||
| Class | Aves (birds) | ||
Order |
Podicipediformes (grebes) | ||
Family |
Podicipedidae (grebes) | ||
Genus |
Aechmophorus (western and Clark’s grebes) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
|||
Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis ephemeralis) Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis occidentalis) |
|||
Synonyms |
|||
|
|||
Visitor Photos |
|||||
Share your photo of this bird. |
|||||
| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption. |
|||||
|
|||||
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
|||||
|
|||||
| Slideshows | ||
| Western Grebe Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren |
||
|
||
| Western Grebe JMC Nature Photos |
||
|
||
| Visitor Videos | |||
Share your video of this bird. |
|||
This button not working for you? |
|||
| Other Videos | |||
| Clark's and Western Grebe Ruedi Abbühl |
|||
About
Uploaded on May 16, 2011 Clark's and Western Grebes perfom the most elaborate breeding ritual. |
|||
| Western Grebe - beauty and grace Clive Bramham |
|||
About
Published on Dec 30, 2014 Day in the life profile of Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis). November, San Diego, California. Opening shots are from Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Imperial Beach. The main shots are from Shelter Island harbor and beach from dawn to dusk. . |
|||
| Dancing Grebes bjornpdx |
|||
About
Uploaded on May 29, 2011 Courtship rituals of the Western and Clark's Grebe. Filmed at Upper Klamath Lake, Klamath Falls, Oregon |
|||
| Rushing Western and Clark's Grebes - Lake Hodges - D800+500mmF4 - HD video Bruno Enriquez Struck |
|||
About
Published on Apr 5, 2013 HD video of Western and Clark's Grebes courting and rushing. Lake Hodges, San Diego County. Nikon D800 + Nikon 500mm F4 |
|||
| The Grebes of Clear Lake (1 of 2) Floyd Hayes |
|||
About
Published on Sep 7, 2012 This video documents the natural history of Western and Clark's Grebes, including courtship, mating, nesting and egg hatching. It also documents anthropogenic and natural threats to their survival, including boating, chemical pollutants, windstorms and predation. |
|||
| The Grebes of Clear Lake (2 of 2) Floyd Hayes |
|||
About
Published on Sep 7, 2012 This video documents the natural history of Western and Clark's Grebes, including courtship, mating, nesting and egg hatching. It also documents anthropogenic and natural threats to their survival, including boating, chemical pollutants, windstorms and predation. |
|||
Visitor Sightings |
|||||
Report a sighting of this bird. |
|||||
| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
|||||
|
|
||||
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
|||||
|
|||||
Last Updated: