[howiewu]

This one was taken today at Brazos Bend State Park too (south of Houston). There were a lot of common moorhens and purple gallinules and their juveniles in the lake. But this one looks a bit different and it was all by itself; it does not look like one of the two species I mentioned above.

Thanks in advance,
Howard

[MariettaBirder]

Pied-billed Grebe I believe; in eclipse

[KCFoggin]

Yup! Pied-billed Grebe for sure.

[phil baber]

Agreed.

[J. Moore]

It's a Pied-billed Grebe alright. But a wet adult. Don't believe grebes have "eclipse" plumages BTW--that's ducks.

Best,
Jim

[prattw]

Originally Posted by J. Moore

It's a Pied-billed Grebe alright. But a wet adult. Don't believe grebes have "eclipse" plumages BTW--that's ducks.

Best,
Jim

The term "eclipse" is used only for the basic plumage of male ducks, true. Grebes do have distinct basic and alternate plumages, however, though the differences in PBGR don't jump out at you as in some other grebes. It's hard to tell when it's so wet, but the beak retains the black ring, so it's probably still in alternate plumage, or undergoing the prebasic molt.

[Addendum: on close examination the bird retains the black thoat, so probably still in alternate plumage.]

Will

[howiewu]

Thank you all! Very educating!

[jmorlan]

The term "eclipse" is used only for the basic plumage of male ducks, true.

Not exactly. The term can be used for female ducks and has been used for other types of birds also. However, current thinking is that eclipse is a synonym for alternate plumage, not basic. Here is an article I wrote on the subject:

What, if Anything, is "Eclipse" plumage?

[prattw]

Thanks Joe,

I've saved that pdf to my files. Personally I have abandoned use of "eclipse" and have been using "basic". I'll give some thought to changing, but given that my database uses basic for the "eclipse" state I'll have to think about it and perhaps wait until things settle out.

Will

[MariettaBirder]

Originally Posted by prattw

The term "eclipse" is used only for the basic plumage of male ducks, true. Grebes do have distinct basic and alternate plumages, however, though the differences in PBGR don't jump out at you as in some other grebes. It's hard to tell when it's so wet, but the beak retains the black ring, so it's probably still in alternate plumage, or undergoing the prebasic molt.

[Addendum: on close examination the bird retains the black thoat, so probably still in alternate plumage.]

Will

Sorry about the terminology usage. I'm just a humble birder and I have problems with these plumage naming differences. I've seen terms like "winter" or "summer" plumage; breeding/non-breeding (passerines mostly). I am also not clear on the difference between "juvenile" & "immature."

BYW, I've seem PBGs with much more pronounce bill rings than the smudge this one has. I'm inclined to believe it's in transition from one plumage states to another whatever they are called.