Western Grebe - Aechmophorus occidentalis

Western Grebe -- South Dakota Birds

Length: 22 - 29 inches	Wingspan: 31 - 40 inches	Seasonality: Summer/Migrant
ID Keys: Long greenish yellow bill, black cap extending below eye (summer), long slender neck

Western Grebe

Aechmophorus occidentalis

Identical in size and shape to Clark's Grebe, once considered to be a lighter morph of the Western Grebe. Bill colors are slightly different, and the Clark's Grebe has white both above and below the eye. Note that in winter, facial patterns are nearly identical for both species, making identification much more difficult. They breed across much of the western United States and Canada, as well as in Mexico. Mating pairs of Western Grebes perform a spectacular mating display, paddling furiously across the surface in a very upright posture

Habitat: Sloughs and shallow lakes with emergent vegetation.

Diet: Mostly fish in all seasons. Occasionally eats insects, crustaceans, and salamanders.

Nesting: Late May through Mid-July.

Breeding map: Breeding bird survey map

Song: Loud crick-kreek, or harsh whistled c-r-r-ee-er-r-r-ee.

Migrations: Most Western Grebes winter on the Pacific Coast, with smaller numbers on interior waters in the Southwest and yet smaller numbers along the western Gulf Coast.

Similar Species: Clark's Grebe. See ID Key's for Western vs. Clark's Grebe. Winter plumage Red-necked Grebes can also look roughly similar to Western Grebes.

Status: Generally stable through most of it's range. However, there is some evidence that they're susceptible to various environmental toxins such as insecticides, and that accumulation of these materials in a bird's system can result in dramatically reduced breeding success.

Further Information: 1) USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Western Grebe

2) Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Western Grebe