Pied Billed Grebe

IraRunyan

The Pied Billed Grebes are getting active and are starting to pair up at the Viera Wetlands. Soon they should start nesting.....

IraRunyan

Apparently, no one seamed to like these shots of the Pied-billed Grebe.....

Any suggestions on how I could have improved them?

Carbonmated

I think they are great. The first photo appears to be a shrimp it is eating? nice capture

Staystill

They're one nice looking duck

IraRunyan

Carbonmated wrote:

I think they are great. The first photo appears to be a shrimp it is eating? nice capture

Thanks for looking. Actually, the Grebe had captured a crawdad which seems to be a favorite food for these birds in this area.

alexf

Staystill wrote:

They're one nice looking duck

Good shots. They are not ducks. Not even related.

They hunt underwater like the anhingas and cormorants. They are the smallest of the underwater hunter/fishers.

IraRunyan

alexf wrote:

Good shots. They are not ducks. Not even related.

They hunt underwater like the anhingas and cormorants. They are the smallest of the underwater hunter/fishers.

Alex is correct, they are not ducks.........

Although it swims like a duck, the Pied Billed Grebe does not have webbed feet. Each toe has lobes extending out on the sides that provide extra surface area for paddling.

The Pied Billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) is one of several grebe species that live in North America, ranging from Canada to northern South America. The Pied Billed Grebe is 9-15 inches in length with a wingspan of 16-24 inches. It has a small, stocky body; a long neck; and a rounded head. It is brown over most of its body and has a white rump. It has a short, stubby whitish bill. Its bill has a dark ring around it during breeding season. Males and females look similar.

Although the Pied Billed Grebe's habitat is mainly fresh water, it may be found in salt water during migration or during the winter. It feeds most commonly in ponds, marshes, and bays on fish, insects, vegetation, and other aquatic life.

It is a diving bird and spends its entire life on the water. Its legs, positioned at the back of its small body, are not well suited for walking or being on land. To take off, the grebe must run across the surface of the water. The Pied Billed Grebe is a poor flyer, and flights are usually limited. Migration takes place mostly at night and occurs from March to April and from August to November.

A Pied Billed Grebe lays four to seven eggs on a floating nest built among reeds. The eggs are green blue when first laid and change to cream or dark brown as they age. Incubation is 23 days and the young are independent after about three weeks.

Harryb

Good set of images. I'll be keeping my eyes out for any chicks.

IraRunyan

Harryb wrote:

Good set of images. I'll be keeping my eyes out for any chicks.

Thanks Harry. Let me know if you locate a nest.........

timcallow

I love the shots, thanks for sharing the info on these birds as well!