Pied-Billed Grebe

Welcome to this week’s Wildlife of the Week!

Our Wildlife of the Week is the appealing little Pied-billed Grebe. Pied-billed Grebes are small, chunky swimming birds, 12 to 15 inches long. They have compact bodies and short necks, with relatively large, blocky heads and short, thick bills. They have virtually no tail. They have dark gray plumage with a rusty hue in winter. The bill is white and black (“pied” which gives it its name) in breeding season and fades to a dull pale the rest of the year.

Podilymbus podiceps

Wetlands areas, ponds and other wet areas are their preferred habitat. They can often be seen in small groups in the impoundment areas of the refuge. They nest and breed in vegetation in these marshy areas.

They are opportunistic feeders and will catch and eat almost anything they happen across. This includes insects, small fish, crawfish, worms, frogs, tadpoles, spiders, salamanders and even some vegetation.

Breeding season lasts from early spring into fall and they nest in shallow water in marshy areas. Their nest is a dense mass of cattails, marsh grass and other vegetation that either floats or is anchored to plants in the bottom of the water.

Fun fact: They are part bird, part submarine: they can adjust their buoyancy by trapping water in their feathers, allowing them to float with just the upper half of the head above the water. They use this ability to hunt by either diving or slowly submerging and stealthily approaching prey.

They are common throughout most of the United States and can easily be spotted on the refuge. Look for them on the water; they are poor fliers and are seldom seen in flight.The pied-billed grebe in the photo was in Dinsmore Slough.

(Photo by Tom Ress)