tomjenner
Well-known member
On January 5th I saw and photographed some grebes on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala and I am interested in birders' comments about their identity. I have posted several photos on my website (http://www.mayanbirding.com) which show the main features, though they are very poor quality. Supposedly, the Atitlan Grebe is now extinct in its pure form, but there may still be hybrids with Pied-billed Grebe, which is a more recent arrival at the lake. I do not see many Pied-billed Grebes this far south, so I need some help from people with more experience.
What struck me most is that the birds were in full summer (alternate) plumage on January 5th, with a black bib and black band down the bill. This seems far too early for normal Pied-bills. The Atitlan Grebe had these features throughout the entire year. The Atitlan Grebe was also larger and had a darker head and neck and was flightless. The website also has a black and white photo of an Atitlan Grebe for comparison.
It is possible that the resident Pied-billed Grebes have a different moult than those further north.
Any comments would be very welcome as the status of the Atitlan Grebe has been uncertain for many years.
Tom
What struck me most is that the birds were in full summer (alternate) plumage on January 5th, with a black bib and black band down the bill. This seems far too early for normal Pied-bills. The Atitlan Grebe had these features throughout the entire year. The Atitlan Grebe was also larger and had a darker head and neck and was flightless. The website also has a black and white photo of an Atitlan Grebe for comparison.
It is possible that the resident Pied-billed Grebes have a different moult than those further north.
Any comments would be very welcome as the status of the Atitlan Grebe has been uncertain for many years.
Tom