The Pied-billed Grebe gains its name from the dark band around its bill, seen only during the breeding season (2012/04/21).
Our four regular grebes all dive underwater to forage. The smallest of these is the Pied-billed Grebe. It mostly eats small fish and crustaceans, such as crayfish, which it captures and crushes with its stout bill and strong jaws before swallowing them.
After it surfaces with a prize, one has to be fast to see what has been caught, for the prey is swallowed in a trice.
A nearly five-year old picture, shows a Pied-billed Grebe downing a crayfish (2015/01/08).
Yesterday’s Pied-billed Grebe took only five seconds to down a small fish after surfacing.
What are the 4 types of Grebes in our area?
Nancy, grebes we get are: the Western, the Red-necked, the Horned, and the Pied-billed Grebes. Occasionally we see an Eared Grebe, and a Clark’s Grebe.
Thanks! I will look these up and look out as well!
I am guessing the Horned and Eared Grebes in Winter plummage could look very similar from a distance? I saw one or the other today but given you say the Horned is more common around here they were likely Horned Grebes (?).