(Credit: U. S. Geological Survey)

Western Grebe - Aechmophorus occidentalis

Identification Tips:

  1. Length: 18? inches Wingspan: 40? inches
  2. Sexes similar
  3. A large, long-necked grebe with a long bill
  4. Bill greenish-yellow
  5. Red eye
  6. Black crown, face, and nape
  7. Black crown includes eye
  8. Dark blackish-brown back and wings
  9. White chin, throat, and belly
  10. White secondaries
  11. Feet set far back on body

Similar species:

Loons are larger with longer bodies and larger, darker bills. Horned and Eared Grebes are smaller with much shorter bills that are never greenish-yellow. Red-necked Grebe is smaller without the bold black and white neck pattern. The formerly conspecific Clark's Grebe is very similar but has a bright yellow bill. The dark crown of the Western Grebe extends below the eye, in the Clark's it is above the eye. The two species have distinctive calls: Clark's gives a simple "kreeet" while the Western gives a doubled note. Hybridization is known so atypical birds should be studied well for exact bill color and face pattern.