# Horned Grebe (*Podiceps auritus*) The Horned Grebe is a small, beautiful bird known for its striking black and white feathers and unique horn-like tufts during the breeding season. They are excellent swimmers and can dive underwater to catch fish. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Horned Grebe](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Podiceps_auritus_%2813909575538%29_%28cropped%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ekaterina Chernetsova (Papchinskaya) from Saint-Petersburg, Russia, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Podiceps_auritus_%2813909575538%29_%28cropped%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Horned Grebe has a sleek body and a pointed bill. In breeding season, it sports a black head with striking golden-orange tufts, resembling 'horns,' and rich rufous flanks. Non-breeding birds are gray and white. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Podicipediformes - **Family:** Podicipedidae - **Genus:** Podiceps ## Interesting facts - Horned Grebe chicks often ride on their parents' backs, even underwater! - Their nests are built to float on the water's surface, anchored to plants! - These birds' feet are placed so far back, they can barely walk on land! - They must take a running start \*on water\* to get enough speed to fly! ## Special abilities - **Underwater Rocket:** Horned Grebe can swim with incredible speed underwater because its legs are positioned far back on its body, acting like powerful propellers. - **Feather Armor:** Horned Grebe swallows its own feathers that help line its gizzard, possibly protecting it from sharp fish bones. - **Stealth Submarine:** Horned Grebe can control its buoyancy to slowly sink below the surface, vanishing from sight to escape predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 31-38 cm - **Wingspan:** 55-64 cm - **Weight:** 0.3-0.57 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-10 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-7 - **Incubation:** 22-25 days - **Migration Distance:** 4000 km ## Diet & Feeding These expert divers eat mostly aquatic insects and small fish found underwater. - **Primary Foods:** aquatic insects, small fish, crustaceans, tadpoles - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Northern Pike](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-pike) (*Esox lucius*) — Large fish can prey on young grebes. - **Eaten by:** [Bald Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bald-eagle) (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*) — These raptors sometimes hunt adult grebes. - **Hunts:** [Yellow Perch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-perch) (*Perca flavescens*) — Horned Grebes dive to catch small fish like this. - **Hunts:** Three-spined Stickleback (*Gasterosteus aculeatus*) — Small fish are a primary food source for grebes. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Horned](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/horned): Characterized by having one or more hard, permanent, pointed projections on the head. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance so they feel safe and happy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Horned Grebe? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Horned Grebe? 31-38 cm ### What is Horned Grebe's wingspan? 55-64 cm ### How much does Horned Grebe weigh? 0.3-0.57 kg ### How long does Horned Grebe live? 2-10 years ### How fast can Horned Grebe move? 60 km/h ### What does Horned Grebe eat? These expert divers eat mostly aquatic insects and small fish found underwater. ### Where is Horned Grebe usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Atchison Village](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/atchison-village) — California, US · Neighborhood - [Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bolsa-chica-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Gary City Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gary-city-center-historic-district) — Indiana, US · Historic District - [Illinois Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/illinois-street-historic-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Illahee State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/illahee-state-park) — Washington, US · State Park - [Garfield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/garfield-park) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Horned Grebe](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/horned-grebe) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Horned Grebe: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/horned-grebe)