Eared Grebes - Colorful Divers
By Dave Hanks
Podiceps nigricollis is the world’s most abundant grebe. Like all grebes, it will
dive and swim under water before it will fly. It can stay under a long time and
can resurface a great distance away from the annoyance. Even though it prefers not
to, it is a strong flier and migrates only at night. Its migration takes it to the
coast to spend the winter. Before migration, it will double its weight. Migration
is a high energy activity.
Summer sees it inland on shallow water bodies that have dense stands of aquatic
vegetation where the bird nests in large colonies. At this time the bird’s plumage
changes from winter drab to springtime colors. It has a bright red eye, golden ear
tufts and wings, and a black crest. It is 12 to 14 inches long and, like other water
birds, has a short tail. A long tail would cause too much drag for a bird taking
flight from the water surface.
The size and shape of the beak tells a story about a bird’s habits. The Eared Grebe
has a long, narrow, sharp beak – very handy for spearing animal matter, especially
fish which make up the bulk of its diet.
We have seen this species in the wetlands of Walden, Colorado where we spent a
morning, expending much effort, in pursuit of photos. Antelope Island, Utah;
Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge, north-east of Great Falls, Montana; and
Camas Refuge by Hamer, Idaho are spots where we have had the best luck observing
this bird.
(A pair in the greenish water of Camas Refuge)
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