PIED-BILLED GREBE Podilymbus podiceps
L 31–38 cm, WS 56–64 cm.
IDENTIFICATION
Transatlantic vagrant. Stocky, medium-sized grebe with relatively large and chunky head, thick, stubby bill, stout neck and very blunt stern. Neck long when erect, but head often carried low on shoulders. Wary: sometimes swims with body either partly or wholly submerged when alarmed, or even with just bill showing. Adult summer distinguished by large and chunky head, thick, stubby, whitish bill with black band (that contrasts with greyish- brown face and neck and black throat patch), whitish eye-ring, and conspicuous white undertail coverts contrasting with dark upperparts and flanks.
Adult winter/Juvenile lacks black band on bill. Distinguished by large and chunky head, thick, stubby, yellowish to dusky-grey bill, whitish eye-ring (not present in juvenile), whitish throat contrasting with warm,
rufous-brown face, neck, breast and flanks (these areas dull brownish, striped with white on face and neck, in juvenile), and conspicuous white undertail coverts (somewhat less so in juvenile) contrasting with dark upperparts and flanks. Most similar to adult winter Little Grebe, which is noticeably smaller overall, with smaller, more rounded head, darker and slimmer bill, buffer throat and usually pale greyish-brown undertail coverts (although these are whitish in some individuals). In flight, Pied-billed shows all-dark upperwings (without the obvious white patches shown by all other grebes except Little). At most shows narrow pale trailing edge on secondaries.
rufous-brown face, neck, breast and flanks (these areas dull brownish, striped with white on face and neck, in juvenile), and conspicuous white undertail coverts (somewhat less so in juvenile) contrasting with dark upperparts and flanks. Most similar to adult winter Little Grebe, which is noticeably smaller overall, with smaller, more rounded head, darker and slimmer bill, buffer throat and usually pale greyish-brown undertail coverts (although these are whitish in some individuals). In flight, Pied-billed shows all-dark upperwings (without the obvious white patches shown by all other grebes except Little). At most shows narrow pale trailing edge on secondaries.
SEX/AGE
Juvenile separable (see above).
VOICE
On breeding grounds, has a loud, resonant, hollow rattling call, at first fast, then slower and ending with a plaintive wail: ‘kow-kow-kow-kow-kow-kow-kowkow-kowk-kowk-kowk-kowk-kowk-kowk-wherrr’.
STATUS/HABITAT
Vagrant (W Europe, Azores). Freshwater lakes with emergent vegetation and marshes with some open water. Outside breeding season also on more open lakes and estuaries.
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