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Western Grebe

Aechmophorus occidentalisOrder: PODICIPEDIFORMES Family: Grebes (Podicipedidae)
Codes: Common Name: WEGR Scientific Name: AECOCC ITIS Taxonomic No.: 174503
Least Concern
 
Western Grebe
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Birdman Mel's Backyard Tips
Jelly Jar Jelly Feeder
The orange "blossum" replaces the lid of a jelly jar.
Attract Orioles with Fruit
Sliced orange secures easily to the center of the ring. Low cost.
Attract with Nectar
Hex shaped nectar feeds several Orioles. Nectar kept in fridge.
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Lovely copper umbrella keeps fruit cool and looks great.

Overview

Western Grebe: Large, long-necked grebe with dark gray upperparts, white underparts, gray sides and flanks. Lower face and front of neck are white; black cap extends below eye. Back of neck is black. Eyes are red. Bill is long, thin, and dull olive-yellow. Wings have white stripes visible in flight.

Range and Habitat

Western Grebe: Breeds from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Minnesota south to southern California. Occasionally found in Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Spends winters along the Pacific coast from southeastern Alaska to California, on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas, and on large river systems in the west. Preferred habitats include large lakes with reeds or rushes, shallow coastal bays, and estuaries.

Topo Map: Upright-perching Water-like Body


Listen to Call

Voice Text

"kr-r-rick, kr-r-rick"

Interesting Facts

 The Western Grebe was first described in 1858 by Sir William Lawrence, an English surgeon and biologist.

 Folk names for this bird include Dabchick, Swan Grebe, and Swan-necked Grebe.

 It is the largest North American grebe.

 A group of grebes are collectively known as a "water dance" of grebes.


Bird Term Glossary



Author

Gary Owen Dick

Artist

Yury Lisyak

Splitbar
Range Map for Western Grebe

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Family Grebe (Podicipedidae)_blue
Species Aechmophorus occidentalis
Length22 - 29 Inches
Wingspan35 Inches

Western Grebe

Western Grebe: Large, long-necked grebe with dark gray upperparts, white underparts, gray sides and flanks. Lower face and front of neck are white; black cap extends below eye. Back of neck is black. Eyes are red. Bill is long, thin, and dull olive-yellow. Wings have white stripes visible in flight.

● Song: "kr-r-rick, kr-r-rick"

● Foraging & Feeding: Western Grebe: Eats fish, insects, mollusks, and crustaceans; dives under water to spear fish with its long bill.

● Breeding & nesting: Western Grebe: Mates in spring following an elaborate courtship that includes dancing, posturing, and running across water. Lays one to seven pale blue eggs in a floating nest made from reeds. Incubation ranges from 23 to 24 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Western Grebe: Loons are larger with longer bodies and heavier, darker bills. Horned and Eared Grebes are smaller with much shorter bills that are never yellow-green. Red-necked Grebe is smaller without bold black-and-white neck pattern. Clark's Grebe has bright yellow bill.

Flight Pattern

Direct flight with rapid wing beats.
Western Grebe Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Western Grebe: Breeds from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Minnesota south to southern California. Occasionally found in Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Spends winters along the Pacific coast from southeastern Alaska to California, on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas, and on large river systems in the west. Preferred habitats include large lakes with reeds or rushes, shallow coastal bays, and estuaries.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial
PopulationFairly common to common
MigrationSome migrate
Weight52.8 Ounces
Upright-perching Water-like BodyX
UnderpartsX
Belly, undertail coverts, chest, flanks, and foreneck.
UpperpartsX
Back, rump, hindneck, wings, and crown.
CapX
The area on top of the head of the bird.
FaceX
The front part of the head consisting of the bill, eyes, cheeks and chin.
4 and 6 letter alpha codesX

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

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ITIS CodesX

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) was established in the mid-1990�s as a cooperative project among several federal agencies to improve and expand upon taxonomic data (known as the NODC Taxonomic Code) maintained by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

To find the ITIS page for a bird species go to the ITIS web site advanced search and report page at http://www.itis.gov/advanced_search.html. You can enter the TSN or the common name of the bird. It will return the ITIS page for that bird. Another way to obtain the ITIS page is to use the Google search engine. Enter the string ITIS followed by the taxonomic ID, for example "ITIS 178041" will return the page for the Allen's Hummingbird.

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Parts of a Standing birdX
Head Feathers and MarkingsX
Parts of a Flying birdX