- Aechmophorus clarkii
Identification
Adult Breeding
- Dark grey-brown above
- Flanks barred grey-brown
- Underparts white
- Head and hindneck blackish
- Contrast sharply with white of face and foreneck
- Black cap usually does not reach eye level
- Red iris
- Dark bill with orange-yellow sides
- Greyish legs
Adult Non-breeding & Juvenile
Similar, but duller and paler showing less contrast between dark and light plumage.
Similar Species
Only likely to be confused with Western Grebe. Best distinguishing features are white above eye and bill colour.
Flight
Shows more extensive white wing-bar than Western Grebe.
Distribution
 |
Southern parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba and in the western USA in from eastern Oregon to Montana and North Dakota and south to California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and northern New Mexico. Also breeds in central Mexico. Much less common than Western in north and east of range. |
| Legend • A. clarkii; year-round |
Taxonomy
Only recently separated from Western Grebe (A. occidentalis) and the exact ranges of the two forms have yet to be elucidated.
Habitat
Breeds on large freshwater lakes and winters on large inland freshwaters or on esturies, bays and sheltered seas.
Behavior
Nesting
Breeding begins mid-May in south of range to early June in north. Breeds in large colonies, nest is a heap of vegetation anchored to emergent plants or on the bottom in shallower water. Eggs: 3-4, whitish with green or buff tinge initially, soon becoming stained (59 x 38mm). Incubated by both sexes for 23 days. Young tended by both sexes and leave nest on hatching.
Diet
Fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Voice
A harsh single note "kreek".
