# Western Grebe (*Aechmophorus occidentalis*) The Western Grebe is a beautiful bird that loves to swim and dive. It has a long neck and can be seen gliding gracefully on lakes and ponds. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Western Grebe](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Western_Grebe_swimming.jpg&width=800) Photo: dominic sherony, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Western_Grebe_swimming.jpg) ## Appearance The Western Grebe is a large, sleek waterbird with a long, slender neck. It has striking black and white plumage, a sharp, pointed bill, and piercing red eyes. Its dark cap extends below its eyes, contrasting with its bright white underside. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Podicipediformes - **Family:** Podicipedidae - **Genus:** Aechmophorus ## Interesting facts - Their floating nests are built on the water, anchored to underwater plants. - Their lobed toes are like paddles, not webbed, for powerful swimming. - Western Grebes deliberately eat their own feathers to help digest fish bones! - Young grebes ride on their parents' backs and rarely leave them for weeks! ## Special abilities - **Underwater Propulsion Master:** Western Grebes can powerfully propel themselves underwater using their specialized feet, which helps them chase fish. - **Water Runner:** Western Grebes can 'walk' or 'run' on the surface of water during their amazing courtship display, called rushing. - **Living Life Raft:** Western Grebes carry their fuzzy chicks on their backs, keeping them safe and warm, even while diving underwater. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 55-74 cm - **Wingspan:** 79-102 cm - **Weight:** 1-1.9 kg - **Lifespan:** 7-10 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-7 - **Incubation:** 23-28 days - **Migration Distance:** 1000 km ## Diet & Feeding These birds primarily eat small fish and aquatic insects. - **Primary Foods:** small fish, aquatic insects, crustaceans - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Threespine Stickleback (*Gasterosteus aculeatus*) — A common prey fish for grebes. - **Eaten by:** [Bald Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bald-eagle) (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*) — Adult grebes can be prey for large raptors. - **Depends on:** Common Cattail (*Typha latifolia*) — Uses cattails and other vegetation for floating nests. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Can raid grebe nests for eggs and chicks. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [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. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [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. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Western 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 Western Grebe? 55-74 cm ### What is Western Grebe's wingspan? 79-102 cm ### How much does Western Grebe weigh? 1-1.9 kg ### How long does Western Grebe live? 7-10 years ### How fast can Western Grebe move? 60 km/h ### What does Western Grebe eat? These birds primarily eat small fish and aquatic insects. ### Where is Western Grebe usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bolsa-chica-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Point Dume State Beach](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/point-dume-state-beach) — California, US · State Park - [Cheyenne Botanic Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cheyenne-botanic-gardens) — Wyoming, US · Botanical Garden - [Elephant Butte Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/elephant-butte-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Fort MacArthur](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-macarthur) — California, US · Historic Site - [Headquarters Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/headquarters-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District [View all places to see Western Grebe](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/western-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: [Western Grebe: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-grebe)