Western Grebe

Aechmophorus occidentalisOrder: PODICIPEDIFORMESFamily: Grebes (Podicipedidae)
Western Grebe Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Dagger
  • Eye color: Red iris
  • Head Pattern: Plain
  • Crown color: Black
  • Forehead color: Black
  • Nape Color: Black
  • Throat color: White
  • Cere color:
Western Grebe Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 56-74 cm (22-29 in)
  • Weight: 1496 g (52.8 oz)
  • Size: Size 4. Large (16 - 32 in)
  • Color: White, Black, Gray
  • Underparts: White
  • Upperparts: Gray-black
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Direct flight with rapid wing beats.
  • Wingspan Range: 79-102 cm (31-40 in)
  • Wing Shape: Tapered-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Rounded Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Streaked
  • Upper Tail: Black
  • Under Tail: White
  • Leg color: Gray
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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