General
Clark's Grebe: Large grebe with gray-black upperparts, white underparts, and slender neck with white on front and black on back. Face is white above eye. Bill is yellow-orange. Sexes are similar. Formerly considered a pale morph of Western Grebe.
Range and Habitat
Clark's Grebe: Breeds from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Minnesota south to southern California, and sparsely to Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Spends winters along the coast from southeastern Alaska to California, along the Gulf coast, and on large river systems in west. Breeds on large lakes with reeds or rushes; winters mainly on shallow coastal bays and estuaries.
Breeding and Nesting
Clark's Grebe: One to six pale blue eggs are laid on a floating nest anchored to reeds; usually nests in dense, noisy colonies. Incubation ranges from 23 to 24 days and is carried out by both parents.
Foraging and Feeding
Clark's Grebe: Diet consists mostly of fish, but also takes insects and other invertebrates; sometimes eats amphibians and plants; forages by diving from the surface.
Vocalization
Clark's Grebe: Song is a loud "kr-r-rick", heard most often on breeding grounds.
Similar Species
Clark's Grebe: Western Grebe has greener bill. Horned and Eared grebes are smaller with much shorter bills that are never yellow. Red-necked Grebe is smaller and lacks bold black-and-white neck pattern.