Western Grebe

(Aechmophorus occidentalis)

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

Ecology

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Slideshows

Western Grebe
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

Western Grebe

Western Grebe
JMC Nature Photos

Western Grebe

 

slideshow

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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.

 

Camcorder

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