Grebes ( Podicipedidae ) By: Kristina Best Wetland Wildlife Management Eastern Kentucky University

Taxonomy of Grebes  Phylum: Chordata  Class: Aves  Order: Podicipediformes  Family: Podicipedidae  Genus: Podilymbus or Podiceps

The History of Grebes The History of Grebes  Grebes have been around for at least 80 million years.  Many fossils have been found: Very successful species.  Not closely related to any other birds.

In General  Diving Birds  Legs set back on body  Toes with three lobes for swimming  Spend most of time in water and are very awkward on land  Many have not been studied extensively  Very diverse and interesting

In General  Distributed throughout the world  Absent from the arctic, antarctic, and some islands in the ocean  Grebes have one family (Podicipedidae), six genera, and 22 species  They leave the water only to nest, walking very short distances upright like penguins.

Grebe Toes  Grebes Have three asymmetrically lobed toes that are thought to aid in swimming.  Adds lift and increases energy efficiency.  The toes being separate increases lift to drag ratio.  (Johansson and Norberg 2000)

Grebe Diving  Feathers are dense and water proof  On underside, feathers are at right angles to the skin.  They stick straight out and then curl at the tip.  By pressing feathers against the body, grebes can adjust their buoyancy.  This allows them to swim in the water with only their heads above the water.  They will often do this to hide instead of flying away.

Pied-Billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps  9-12 inches long  Sexes similar  Small grebe with a short, thick bill  Brown plumage that is darker on back  May or may not have a black ring around bill  White coverts under the tail

Pied Billed Grebe  Lives in fresh water, but will go to salt water in the winter when ponds and lakes freeze  Breeds in open water  Seasonally monogamous  Construct floating nests connected to vegitation  2 to 10 pale bluish or greenish eggs  incubated by both parents  23 days until hatch

Breeding Range

Winter Range

Pied-Billed Grebe  Chicks will ride on parents back or cling to tail, although they can swim right after hatching  Eat mostly aquatic invertebrates  Sometimes eat fish, small reptiles, and amphibians

Horned Grebe Podiceps nigricollis 11112-15 inches long SSSShort pointed bill SSSSexes similar SSSShort, thin, black bill with pale tip BBBBreeding: Head black with gold strip going from back of eye to back of head. Reddish neck, dark back, and white belly. WWWWinter: Black cap, hind-neck, and back. White face, fore- neck, and belly.

Horned Grebe  Breeds on marshes and lakes  Winters on saltwater and lakes that do not freeze  4-7 bluish white eggs  Incubation days  days till fledge  Young can swim after hatching  Ride on parents back

Breeding Range

Winter Range

Horned Grebe  Eat mainly fish and aquatic invertebrates  Swallow own feathers which lodge in stomach and prevent fish bones from interring intestines  Rarely seen at night. Once on wintering grounds they seldom fly  Migrate at night

Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis  12 inches long with a 23 inch wingspan  Short, thin, black bill with no pale area  Sexes similar  Breeding: Black head with a golden ray of feathers behind eye. Black neck and back with reddish sides.  Winter: Gray/white neck and chin. Dark body with whitish sides.

Breeding Range

Winter Range

Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)  inches  has red neck, black cap, whitish cheeks, and long, pointed yellowish bill.  In winter, grey with paler cheeks and bill

Breeding Range

Winter Range

Western Grebe  18 inches long with a 40 inch wing span  Long neck and long, yellow-green bill  Black crown, nape, and dark body  White neck and belly

Other Grebes

Key to the Grebes  Overall size? = Robin-sized Bill shape? = short & thick.... Pied-billed Grebe = thin bill Eye color? = yellow.... Least Grebe = red Season? = summer Golden tuft? = horns like an expanding eyebrow.... Horned Grebe = ears fanning out behind eye.... Eared Grebe = winter Face? = black cap above eye, white face below eye.... Horned Grebe = black face with white U-shaped crescent along lower edge... Eared Grebe = Mallard-sized Neck color? = red-fronted in summer or mottled gray in winter.... Red-necked Grebe = black & white, sharply defined edges Eye background? = white around eye.... Clark's Grebe = black around eye.... Western Grebe Pied-billed GrebeHorned GrebeEared GrebeRed-necked GrebeClark's GrebeWestern GrebePied-billed GrebeHorned GrebeEared GrebeRed-necked GrebeClark's GrebeWestern Grebe

Management Practices  Control sedimentation, pollution, and water levels  Develop or maintain wetlands  Don’t let livestock in or on bank of stream or wetland  Control predators: Wild dogs  Restrict human disturbance during migration, breeding, and nesting  Maintain good vegetation for breeding

Avoid installation of channels and dams Avoid dredging Control the use of herbicide, pesticide, and insecticide

Questions?