GrebesGrebes( Podicipedidae )( Podicipedidae )

By: Kristina BestBy: Kristina Best

Wetland Wildlife ManagementWetland Wildlife Management

Eastern Kentucky UniversityEastern Kentucky University

Taxonomy of GrebesTaxonomy of Grebes

Phylum: ChordataPhylum: Chordata

Class: AvesClass: Aves

Order: Podicipediformes Order: Podicipediformes

Family: Podicipedidae Family: Podicipedidae

Genus: Genus: Podilymbus or PodicepsPodilymbus or Podiceps

The History of GrebesThe History of Grebes

Grebes have been Grebes have been around for at least 80 around for at least 80 million years.million years.

Many fossils have Many fossils have been found: Very been found: Very successful species.successful species.

Not closely related to Not closely related to any other birds.any other birds.

In GeneralIn General

Diving BirdsDiving Birds Legs set back on bodyLegs set back on body Toes with three lobes for Toes with three lobes for

swimmingswimming Spend most of time in Spend most of time in

water and are very water and are very awkward on landawkward on land

Many have not been Many have not been studied extensivelystudied extensively

Very diverse and Very diverse and interestinginteresting

In GeneralIn General

Distributed throughout the Distributed throughout the worldworld

Absent from the arctic, Absent from the arctic, antarctic, and some antarctic, and some islands in the oceanislands in the ocean

Grebes have one family Grebes have one family (Podicipedidae), six (Podicipedidae), six genera, and 22 speciesgenera, and 22 species

They leave the water only They leave the water only to nest, walking very to nest, walking very short distances upright short distances upright like penguins. like penguins.

Grebe ToesGrebe Toes

Grebes Have three Grebes Have three asymmetrically lobed asymmetrically lobed toes that are thought toes that are thought to aid in swimming.to aid in swimming.

Adds lift and Adds lift and increases energy increases energy efficiency.efficiency.

The toes being The toes being separate increases lift separate increases lift to drag ratio.to drag ratio.

(Johansson and (Johansson and Norberg 2000)Norberg 2000)

Grebe DivingGrebe Diving Feathers are dense and water Feathers are dense and water

proofproof On underside, feathers are at On underside, feathers are at

right angles to the skin. right angles to the skin. They stick straight out and They stick straight out and

then curl at the tip.then curl at the tip. By pressing feathers against By pressing feathers against

the body, grebes can adjust the body, grebes can adjust their buoyancy.their buoyancy.

This allows them to swim in This allows them to swim in the water with only their heads the water with only their heads above the water.above the water.

They will often do this to hide They will often do this to hide instead of flying away. instead of flying away.

Pied-Billed GrebePied-Billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsPodilymbus podiceps

9-12 inches long9-12 inches long Sexes similarSexes similar Small grebe with a short, Small grebe with a short,

thick billthick bill Brown plumage that is Brown plumage that is

darker on backdarker on back May or may not have a May or may not have a

black ring around billblack ring around bill White coverts under the White coverts under the

tailtail

Pied Billed GrebePied Billed Grebe Lives in fresh water, but will go Lives in fresh water, but will go

to salt water in the winter when to salt water in the winter when

ponds and lakes freezeponds and lakes freeze Breeds in open waterBreeds in open water Seasonally monogamous Seasonally monogamous Construct floating nests Construct floating nests

connected to vegitationconnected to vegitation 2 to 10 pale bluish or greenish 2 to 10 pale bluish or greenish

eggseggs incubated by both parentsincubated by both parents 23 days until hatch23 days until hatch

Breeding RangeBreeding Range

Winter RangeWinter Range

Pied-Billed GrebePied-Billed Grebe

Chicks will ride on Chicks will ride on parents back or cling parents back or cling to tail, although they to tail, although they can swim right after can swim right after hatchinghatching

Eat mostly aquatic Eat mostly aquatic invertebratesinvertebrates

Sometimes eat fish, Sometimes eat fish, small reptiles, and small reptiles, and amphibiansamphibians

Horned GrebeHorned GrebePodiceps nigricollisPodiceps nigricollis

12-15 inches long12-15 inches long Short pointed billShort pointed bill Sexes similarSexes similar Short, thin, black bill with pale Short, thin, black bill with pale

tiptip Breeding: Head black with gold Breeding: Head black with gold

strip going from back of eye to strip going from back of eye to back of head. Reddish neck, back of head. Reddish neck, dark back, and white belly.dark back, and white belly.

Winter: Black cap, hind-neck, Winter: Black cap, hind-neck,

and back.and back. White face, fore-White face, fore-neck, and belly. neck, and belly.

Horned GrebeHorned Grebe

Breeds on marshes and Breeds on marshes and lakeslakes

Winters on saltwater and Winters on saltwater and lakes that do not freezelakes that do not freeze

4-7 bluish white eggs4-7 bluish white eggs Incubation 22-25 daysIncubation 22-25 days 45-60 days till fledge45-60 days till fledge Young can swim after Young can swim after

hatchinghatching Ride on parents backRide on parents back

Breeding RangeBreeding Range

Winter RangeWinter Range

Horned GrebeHorned Grebe

Eat mainly fish and Eat mainly fish and aquatic invertebratesaquatic invertebrates

Swallow own feathers Swallow own feathers which lodge in stomach which lodge in stomach and prevent fish bones and prevent fish bones from interring intestinesfrom interring intestines

Rarely seen at night. Rarely seen at night. Once on wintering Once on wintering grounds they seldom flygrounds they seldom fly

Migrate at nightMigrate at night

Eared GrebeEared GrebePodiceps nigricollisPodiceps nigricollis

12 inches long with a 23 12 inches long with a 23 inch wingspaninch wingspan

Short, thin, black bill with Short, thin, black bill with no pale areano pale area

Sexes similarSexes similar Breeding: Black head Breeding: Black head

with a golden ray of with a golden ray of feathers behind eye. feathers behind eye. Black neck and back with Black neck and back with reddish sides.reddish sides.

Winter: Gray/white neck Winter: Gray/white neck and chin. Dark body with and chin. Dark body with whitish sides.whitish sides.

Breeding RangeBreeding Range

Winter RangeWinter Range

Red-necked GrebeRed-necked Grebe((Podiceps grisegena)Podiceps grisegena)

18-20 inches18-20 inches has red neck, black has red neck, black

cap, whitish cheeks, cap, whitish cheeks, and long, pointed and long, pointed yellowish bill. yellowish bill.

In winter, grey with In winter, grey with paler cheeks and billpaler cheeks and bill

Breeding RangeBreeding Range

Winter RangeWinter Range

Western GrebeWestern Grebe

18 inches long with a 18 inches long with a 40 inch wing span40 inch wing span

Long neck and long, Long neck and long, yellow-green billyellow-green bill

Black crown, nape, Black crown, nape, and dark bodyand dark body

White neck and bellyWhite neck and belly

Other GrebesOther Grebes

Key to the GrebesKey to the Grebes Overall size?Overall size?

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

Management PracticesManagement Practices Control sedimentation, Control sedimentation,

pollution, and water levelspollution, and water levels Develop or maintain wetlandsDevelop or maintain wetlands Don’t let livestock in or on Don’t let livestock in or on

bank of stream or wetlandbank of stream or wetland Control predators: Wild dogsControl predators: Wild dogs Restrict human disturbance Restrict human disturbance

during migration, breeding, during migration, breeding, and nesting and nesting

Maintain good vegetation for Maintain good vegetation for breedingbreeding

Avoid installation of channels and damsAvoid installation of channels and dams

Avoid dredgingAvoid dredging

Control the use of herbicide, pesticide, and Control the use of herbicide, pesticide, and insecticideinsecticide

Questions?Questions?