Eared Grebe - Sierra Club BC
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Eared Grebe

CAN BE FOUND IN:

Eared Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis 

Appearance

Eared grebe have two different appearances depending on the season. In the winter, they are grey and dirty white. During the summer mating season, they are all black with gold tufts around their ears and reddish-brown-colored sides. They also have very bright red eyes that stand out against their black feathers. 

Range & Habitat

Eared grebe are found in B.C., Alberta, southern Saskatchewan and the northern Great Plains of the US. Their habitat is ponds, lakes, and marshes that provide thick vegetation for making nests. These birds are never seen on land, preferring to swim or fly. 

Reciprocal relationships

Eared grebes are important predators of many water insects, fish, molluscs, and amphibians in their habitat. Since these birds do not have good legs for walking on land and cannot fly long distances, they are gifted with an adept swimming ability. They are expert long-distance swimmers and divers, which is especially useful for hunting their favorite foods.  

They nest in large colonies or groups where there is enough vegetation to protect their nest site. They migrate to spend their winters in the warmer United States. A main threat to colonial nesters such as the eared grebe is human activity that disrupts the nesting sites. The disturbance causes a heating or cooling of the nest so that the eggs may fail to hatch. Pollution and development are other human threats to the species. 

status

COSEWIC: Not Reported 
CDC: Blue 

more information

If you belong to a First Nation with a story or piece of information not represented here and you would like to share more about this species, please email us at education@sierraclub.bc.ca.   

Photo credit

Canva

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