Is a Western Grebe a duck?

What is the difference between Clark’s grebes and western grebes?

Plumage: While Clark’s and western grebes are almost identical in plumage, Clark’s grebes are lighter overall when seen in good light, and their flanks are particularly lighter and may show as light gray or whitish. Western grebes are darker overall and can appear dark gray or black, with much darker flanks.

Is the western grebe bird in decline?

Populations of Western Grebe were stable or declining from 1968 to 2015, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Estimates suggest a steep decline of 2% per year, but these figures have a wide margin of error because of the difficulty of monitoring this species.

What color is Clark’s grebe in winter?

In the winter in California numerous examples of dark-colored western grebes displayed the mostly white face of Clark’s grebe, although this was intermediate and thought to be possibly due to seasonal changes.

What is the difference between a grebe and a western grebe?

A distinguishing feature is its bill, which is bright yellow in the US, whereas the Western Grebe’s bill is greenish-yellow in the US, which had been noted by others. Storer and Nuechterlein in 1992 claim that the bill is slightly upturned in this species whereas the western grebe has a straight bill, this was not noted in earlier studies.

Where can I see a Clark’s grebe?

During the breeding season, look for Clark’s Grebes on freshwater lakes with marshy edges. In the winter, they move to coastal waters along the Pacific Coast, where they may occur alongside Western Grebes—so look for Clark’s more yellow-orange bill. A spotting scope is useful for obtaining good views of this handsome grebe.

What is a western grebe?

Western Grebe plumage is very dense and waterproof. In the nineteenth century the birds were hunted and their hides used to make coats, capes, and hats that cost as much as luxury items made from mammal pelts.

What is western grebe plumage?

Western Grebe plumage is very dense and waterproof. In the nineteenth century the birds were hunted and their hides used to make coats, capes, and hats that cost as much as luxury items made from mammal pelts. In some areas, grebe populations crashed or even disappeared altogether.

What is the difference between a male and female western grebe?

Male Western Grebes generally have longer and thicker bills than females. The difference may permit males and females to feed on different-sized prey, reducing food competition between the sexes. Western Grebe plumage is very dense and waterproof.

What is the difference between a Canada goose and a loon?

The most noticeable difference is that Canada geese have long, slender necks, but common loons have short, thicker necks. The heads of common loons are black, while Canada geese come with blackish heads with white cheek patches on their faces.

What happens to grebes in the fall?

When the breeding season is over, the adults molt their wing feathers and, when new feathers appear, generally migrate in the fall to coastal habitats where fish stock is abundant. As to our concern for the level of stability of the Western Grebe populations, the prognosis is complicated.

What are the threats to the western grebe?

Like many waterbirds, Western Grebe is sensitive to pesticides, habitat degradation, disturbance by humans (when nesting, especially from motorized watercraft), oil spills, and gill nets. Hayes, F. E., and D. G. Turner. 2017.

Where do grebes migrate in the winter?

Northern birds migrate west to the coastal ocean in winter; birds in the southwest and Mexico may be permanent residents. Western grebes inhabit lakes, ponds, and brackish marshes that are mixed with marsh vegetation and open water. In winter, they mainly occur at sea along the coasts, in sheltered bays and estuaries.

Where do Clark’s grebes live?

Clark’s grebes occur seasonally throughout the majority of Western America, with a distribution ranging as far south as Mexico, and reaching as far north as British Columbia and Saskatchewan. They avoid the cold and are only found in central USA and Canada during the summer breeding season.

Where do Clark’s and western grebes live?

Western Grebes do have a wider year round presence that extends through much of the Southwest where freshwater ponds and lakes provide adequate food and shelter. Eastern birders who visit the West often have the Clark’s and Western Grebes on their must see life’s list.

What is another name for a swan grebe?

Folk names include “dabchick”, “swan grebe” and “swan-necked grebe”. Western grebe fossils from the Late Pleistocene of southwest North America were described as a distinct species, but later ranked as a paleosubspecies Aechmophorus occidentalis lucasi.

Are western grebe fossils different species?

Western grebe fossils from the Late Pleistocene of southwest North America were described as a distinct species, but later ranked as a paleosubspecies Aechmophorus occidentalis lucasi. More recent study found them to fall within the variation now known to exist in today’s birds.

What kind of bird is a western grebe?

The western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) is a species in the grebe family of water birds.

What is the difference between a western grebe and a Clark’s grebe?

The western grebe has black around the eyes and a straight greenish-yellow bill whereas the Clark’s grebe has white around the eyes and an up-turned bright yellow bill. The downy young of Western are grey; Clark’s downy young are white.

Where can I find a grebe in the wild?

Breeds on marshy lakes, where it builds a floating nest of vegetation. Mostly found on saltwater bays and open ocean in winter, but also lakes. Very similar to Western Grebe, with extensive range overlap and often in mixed flocks. Typically outnumbered by Western where they occur together.

What does a western grebe look like?

Western Grebes are crisp black and white, with a sharp transition between black and white extending down the neck. The head and most of the face are black, with white below the eye.

How do pied-billed grebes swim?

When apprehensive, the Pied-billed Grebe will sink slowly, expelling air from the body and feathers to lower their gravity, then they will swim with only their head above the water, facilitating an escape if need be.

Why is the western grebe endangered?

he Western Grebe, a large waterbird that breeds in the interior of British Columbia and winters on the coast, is at risk in this province because its spe- cialized habitat requirements limit it to only a few nesting locations and because of human disturbance at these sites.

What are the characteristics of Western grebes?

The Western grebe is the largest among North American grebes. Folk names of Western grebes include “dabchick”, “swan grebe” and “swan-necked grebe”. The breeding dances of Western grebes are known to be the most elaborated dances in the water bird species. After the breeding, the male Western grebes feed their mate.

What are grebes feet like?

Grebes have short wings and are not good flyers. Their feet, rather than being fully webbed, have broad lobes. The lobal membrane outlines the three front toes. Grebes have legs that are attached far back on the body. This does not allow them to move well on land. They also have a short tail and are known as tailless water birds.