Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)

Primarily a winter visitor and migrant to our area, this small grebe of Western North America often sunbathes by fluffing its rear feathers while facing away from the sun. This posture gives it a "high stern" profile as seen here. Often confused with the larger more crisply marked Horned Grebe, notice the smudgy gray face and peaked crown on this individual. In Europe this species has a shorter bill, more white in the wing and goes under the name "Black-necked Grebe."