A long-necked black-and-white waterbird famous for synchronized courtship "rushing" displays.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The western grebe is a species in the grebe family of water birds. Folk names include "dabchick", "swan grebe" and "swan-necked grebe".
Source: Wikipedia — Western grebe Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Long, slim black-and-white grebe with a long neck, a greenish-yellow bill, and a black cap that extends down to enclose the red eye.
Similar species. Clark's Grebe has a brighter orange bill and white surrounding the eye (cap above the eye); the cap-eye relationship and bill color separate them.
Voice. A rolling, two-note creaking 'kreee-kreee' (versus Clark's single 'kreeet').
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Fish, aquatic invertebrates caught by foot-propelled dives.
Behavior. An elegant waterbird of western lakes famous for the synchronized 'rushing' courtship dance, in which pairs rear up and run across the water in unison.
§ Range
Western US lakes
§ Habitat
Large freshwater lakes
§ Threats
Lake-level changes, oil spills.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the western grebe is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Maintain natural lake hydrology.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Western grebe
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Aechmophorus occidentalis
- IUCN Red List — search for Aechmophorus occidentalis
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Aechmophorus occidentalis
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
