A long-necked black-and-white waterbird famous for synchronized courtship "rushing" displays — pairs run in unison across the water surface for 30+ feet.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Clark's grebe is a North American waterbird species in the grebe family. Until the 1980s, it was thought to be a pale morph of the western grebe, which it resembles in size, range, and behavior. Intermediates between the two species are known.
Source: Wikipedia — Clark's grebe Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Slender, long-necked grebe with a bright yellow-orange bill; black cap sits above the eye so the eye is surrounded by white. Black-and-white, very like Western Grebe.
Similar species. Western Grebe has a greenish-yellow bill and the black cap extends down to enclose the eye; the eye's relationship to the cap and bill color separate the two.
Voice. A single, drawn-out, upslurred 'kreeet' (versus Western Grebe's two-note 'kreee-kreee').
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Fish, aquatic invertebrates caught by foot-propelled dives.
Behavior. A graceful waterbird of western lakes that performs a spectacular synchronized courtship 'rushing' display, partners sprinting upright across the water side by side.
§ Range
Western North American freshwater lakes
§ Habitat
Large freshwater lakes and reservoirs
§ Threats
Lake-level changes, oil spills, fishing line entanglement.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the clark's grebe is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Maintain natural lake-level fluctuations. Cut and dispose of monofilament line responsibly.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Clark's grebe
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Aechmophorus clarkii
- IUCN Red List — search for Aechmophorus clarkii
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Aechmophorus clarkii
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
