Is eared grebe a carnivore?

What is the difference between eared grebe and horned grebe?

Compare with Horned Grebe, especially in winter. Eared is thinner-necked and smaller-headed, with more peaked crown, darker cheek, and no pale tip on bill.

What does a grebe bird look like in the winter?

Small, compact grebe with thin pointed bill. Breeding adults mostly black with chestnut flanks; look for wispy golden plumes on cheek and peaked head shape. In winter, grayish overall with a dark cap blending into the dark cheek, and a smudgy dark neck. Red eye visible at close range.

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

In the western grebe, the black cap typically extends down to the eye whereas white facial plumage extends slightly above the eye on the Clark’s grebe, but this is not always diagnostic in winter.

What is the difference between a grebe and a red-necked grebe?

Slightly larger than an Eared Grebe, smaller than a Red-necked Grebe. Breeding adults are dark gray-black on the back with rich rusty-cinnamon sides and neck. The head is gray-black with long yellow tufts behind the eye.

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

Larger than a Mallard, smaller than a Common Loon. 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. The bill is yellowish or greenish yellow and the eye is red at close range.

What does a red necked grebe look like?

A mid-sized grebe with a long, heavy bill and thick neck, the Red-necked Grebe is the only grebe in Washington with a red neck and a white chin in breeding plumage. Breeding plumage is characterized by a dark body, red neck, white cheeks, and black crown. Juveniles and adults in non-breeding plumage are an overall grayish-brown.

What is the habitat of a grebe?

Grebes prefer shallow bodies of fresh water such as lakes, marshes or fish-ponds as breeding sites. The red-necked grebe is a nondescript dusky-grey bird in winter. During the breeding season, it acquires the distinctive red neck plumage, black cap and contrasting pale grey face from which its name was derived.

Are there red necked grebes in Washington State?

Fairly common inland breeder. A mid-sized grebe with a long, heavy bill and thick neck, the Red-necked Grebe is the only grebe in Washington with a red neck and a white chin in breeding plumage. Breeding plumage is characterized by a dark body, red neck, white cheeks, and black crown.

What is the difference between Slavonian grebe and black-necked grebe?

Slavonian Grebe: Middleton, Lancs Slavonian appears longer, flatter, backed, but sometimes can appear ‘fluffed-up’ at the rear when loafing, inviting confusion with Black-necked ( photo: Sue Tranter ). Slavonian Grebe: Rutland Water Note the straight bill of Slavonian, lacking the upward tilt of Black-necked.

What kind of bird has a red neck and yellow bill?

Red-necked Grebes are boldly plumaged waterbirds with pale cheeks and a daggerlike yellow bill that contrasts with a sharp black crown often likened to a toreador’s cap (sometimes raised into a short crest). In breeding plumage, the neck is a rich brick red.

What does the red-necked grebe feed its young?

The Red-necked Grebe also feeds its feathers to its young. The Red-necked Grebe migrates over land strictly at night. It sometimes migrates over water or along coasts by day, in large flocks. The oldest recorded Red-necked Grebe was at least 11 years old when it was found in Minnesota, the same state where it had been banded.

Where can I see a red-necked grebe?

In winter, Red-necked Grebes frequent northerly ocean coasts, and they sometimes feed well away from shore, so using a spotting scope (or joining a bird walk where the leader has one) can be useful for seeing them well.

Where do grebes migrate to?

After the breeding season, many move first to lakes where they molt their wing feathers, becoming flightless during that period. Once their new flight feathers have grown in, most Western Grebes then migrate to saltwater or brackish habitats, including ocean shores, sheltered bays, rivers, and estuaries.

What is the habitat of the western grebe?

Western Grebe Life History. Habitat. Western Grebes breed on freshwater lakes and marshes with extensive open water bordered by emergent vegetation. During winter they move to saltwater or brackish bays, estuaries, or sheltered sea coasts and are less frequently found on freshwater lakes or rivers.

What kind of grebe has a red neck?

A mid-sized grebe with a long, heavy bill and thick neck, the Red-necked Grebe is the only grebe in Washington with a red neck and a white chin in breeding plumage. Breeding plumage is characterized by a dark body, red neck, white cheeks, and black crown.

How many species of grebes are in Washington State?

Six species have been recorded in Washington. Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis Clark’s grebe, Aechmorphorus clarkii

Where do red-necked grebes live?

Red-necked Grebes are found in distinctly different habitats at different times of year. During summer they nest on large freshwater lakes, sloughs, and reservoirs. They prefer areas with stable water levels and require emergent vegetation to anchor their floating nests.

Where does the red necked grebe owl live?

The red-necked grebe can be found from Alaska to the Great Lakes and down to the United States border. During winter, they may migrate to the Atlantic coast and be found on the Pacific coast down to California. There are at least 22 species of owl in North America.

What is the difference between Slavonian and black necked grebe?

Black-necked Grebe (Titchwell, Norfolk, 22 February 2009). This non-breeding Black-necked Grebe appears rather different from Slavonian. Although a black-and-white small grebe, it looks less contrasty and more drab and dingy than Slavonian. Note also the slim, upturned wholly dark bill and the high crown.

What kind of bird has a bright red head and neck?

A bright red hood covers their head, neck, and breast, below which their body has a muted shade of yellow. They commonly nest on the aspen, hemlock, and ponderosa pine trees in the deciduous and coniferous forests of America.

Why does the red-necked grebe eat its own feathers?

Like other grebes, the Red-necked Grebe ingests large quantities of its own feathers. The stomach retains two distinct masses (balls) of feathers, and their function is unknown. One hypothesis suggests that the feathers help protect the lower digestive tract from bones and other hard, indigestible material.

What is the habitat of a red necked grebe?

Red-necked grebe. The red-necked grebe (Podiceps grisegena) is a migratory aquatic bird found in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Its wintering habitat is largely restricted to calm waters just beyond the waves around ocean coasts, although some birds may winter on large lakes.

What eats red necked grebe eggs?

The red-necked grebe is normally single-brooded, although second broods and re-nesting after a clutch has been lost may extend nesting into July or August. Eggs may be destroyed and chicks killed by a range of predators, including the raccoon in North America and the carrion crow in Europe. Pike may take swimming chicks.

What is the function of the stomach in a red necked grebe?

The stomach retains two distinct masses (balls) of feathers, and their function is unknown. One hypothesis suggests that the feathers help protect the lower digestive tract from bones and other hard, indigestible material. The Red-necked Grebe also feeds its feathers to its young.

What does a great horned grebe bird look like?

Almost as large as a Mallard; intermediate between Horned Grebe and Western Grebe. Nonbreeding birds are mostly dark gray above, paler below, with pale cheeks and sides of neck. Breeding adults have a rusty red breast and foreneck, with a smart black cap and sharply defined white cheek.

Where do grebes go after breeding?

After the breeding season, many move first to lakes where they molt their wing feathers, becoming flightless during that period. Once their new flight feathers have grown in, most Western Grebes then migrate to saltwater or brackish habitats, including ocean shores, sheltered bays, rivers, and estuaries.