The pied-billed grebe is a small waterbird found across North America. With its drab brown plumage, stocky body shape, and tendency to dive quickly when approached, the pied-billed grebe can be a tricky bird to identify. However, with some practice and knowledge of the grebe’s key features, even beginning birders can learn to recognize these wetland birds. In this article, we’ll cover the main identification points to look for when trying to identify a pied-billed grebe.
Range and Habitat
Pied-billed grebes are found across much of North America. Their breeding range stretches from central Canada through the United States into Mexico. They winter along the southern coasts of the U.S. and Mexico. This wide distribution means pied-billed grebes can be found on many types of wetlands, from small ponds and marshes to large lakes and reservoirs. Look for them on calm waters with lots of vegetation, where they can find food and nesting cover. During migration, pied-billed grebes may stop at almost any water body.
Size and Shape
Pied-billed grebes are stocky, short-necked waterbirds. Adults measure about 13-15 inches in length and weigh 10-16 ounces. This makes them a bit smaller and chunkier than other grebes. Overall, they have a rounded, pot-bellied shape. Their wings are short and rounded compared to many waterbirds. When swimming, pied-billed grebes sit low in the water with just their stout bill and forehead peeking above the surface.
Plumage
Pied-billed grebes have drab plumage that helps camouflage them in vegetated wetlands. Their breeding plumage is brownish-gray above and paler below. The chin, throat, and face are white to grayish-white. There is a distinctive brown stripe running from the bill, through the eye, and down the side of the neck. This stripe gives rise to the name “pied-billed.”
The bill itself is short, thick, and chicken-like. During breeding season it has a broad black band across the middle, framed by pale yellowish or whitish on the upper and lower mandibles. Juvenile pied-billed grebes lack the black band, having a more uniformly yellowish bill.
In winter plumage, pied-billed grebes become even drabber. The dark ear stripe may fade and the bill band disappears completely. But the stocky shape and behavior remains the same.
Behaviors
Pied-billed grebes behave somewhat differently than other North American grebes. They are less likely to be found in large flocks or engaging in synchronized swimming. Instead, pied-billed grebes are usually solitary or in pairs. They dive frequently when feeding or to escape perceived threats. On the water’s surface they sit low, with their tail just above the water line.
These grebes rarely take flight, but when they do take off they must paddle across the water for some distance before becoming airborne. Their short wings make for labored, flapping flight close to the water’s surface. Their feet do not extend past the tail in flight like other grebes.
Calls
The most common call of the pied-billed grebe is a loud, ringing “kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk” note that advertises the territory of a breeding pair. This call carries across the wetland and serves to maintain spacing between grebe pairs. During courtship, mates may perform duets, softly calling back and forth. The young of pied-billed grebes emit high-pitched trilling or peeping calls.
Similar Species
The drab plumage and secretive nature of pied-billed grebes makes them easy to overlook. But they can be distinguished from other wetland birds by their stocky shape, frequent diving habit, and blunt chicken-like bill.
Eared grebes are close relatives of pied-billed grebes and occupy similar habitats. But eared grebes are more slender and have a sharper, pointed bill. Their black-and-white breeding plumage and red eyes are also distinctive.
Pied-billed grebes may be confused with coots, which are also brown waterbirds. But coots have an all-white bill and frontal shield on the forehead. And unlike grebes, coots can walk on land without difficulty.
Tips for Identification
Here are some key points for identifying pied-billed grebes:
- Look for a compact, low-sitting waterbird with a very short, chunky neck.
- Note the thick, chicken-like bill with pale base and dark band across the middle.
- Watch for frequent, abrupt dives and a tendency to swim low in the water.
- Listen for the loud, ringing “kuk-kuk-kuk” call, often given in pairs.
- Be patient. Pied-billed grebes dive at the slightest disturbance, but often resurface nearby.
- With practice, the stubby shape and behavior makes this grebe recognizable even at a distance.
Conclusion
Identifying birds takes practice, but with some knowledge of pied-billed grebe shape, plumage, behavior, and calls they can be distinguished from similar wetland species. Focus on the thick triangular bill, bold black and white stripe on the head during breeding season, frequent diving habit, and loud territorial calls. With experience, birders can come to recognize pied-billed grebes by their characteristic silhouette and actions alone. Paying attention to details like plumage patterns, vocalizations, behaviors, and habitat preferences will help birders correctly identify this common but inconspicuous waterbird.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Size & Shape | A small, stocky waterbird about 13-15 in long with a short, thick neck. Rounded overall shape. |
| Bill | Short, chicken-like bill. Dark band across middle of breeding adults. Pale base and tip. |
| Plumage | Drab brownish-gray above, paler below. Striking black-and-white stripe on side of head and neck in breeding season. |
| Behavior | Frequent diving and swimming low in the water. Rarely flies. Territorial pairs give loud ringing calls. |
| Habitat | Vegetated wetlands of all types and sizes, from small ponds to large lakes. |
Description
The pied-billed grebe is a small-sized waterbird, generally measuring around 13–15 inches (33–38 cm) in length and weighing 10–16 ounces (300-450g). Its relatively short, thick neck and chunky body shape give it a distinctive rounded, pot-bellied profile in the water. The bill is short, stout, and chicken-like.
Color Pattern
The pied-billed grebe’s plumage is mainly brownish-gray above and whitish below. During the breeding season, distinctive black and white markings develop around the face and bill. A broad black stripe runs from the blackish bill, through the eye, and down the side of the neck. This contrasts sharply with the white chin, cheeks, and forehead. The bill itself gains a bold black band across the middle during breeding season, bordered by pale yellowish or white on the upper and lower mandible. This striking facial pattern with bold black and white stripes gives rise to the name “pied-billed.”
Behavior
Unlike many other grebes, pied-billed grebes are usually solitary or found in pairs. They are less gregarious and do not engage in elaborate group displays. Pied-billed grebes dive frequently when feeding and will quickly submerge at the slightest disturbance. They have the unusual habit of swimming with just their beak and forehead above the waterline, making them seem to disappear against the rippled water surface. When taking flight, they must paddle across the water to gain enough speed for their short wings. Their feet do not extend past the tail in flight.
Voice
The most common vocalization of the pied-billed grebe is a loud, ringing call that sounds like “kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk.” This far-carrying call serves to defend territories and maintain spacing between breeding pairs. During courtship, mates may perform duets, softly calling back and forth. Young pied-billed grebes emit high-pitched trilling calls when begging for food.
Range and Habitat
Pied-billed grebes breed across much of North America, from central Canada southward through the United States into Mexico. They winter along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts into Mexico and the Caribbean. They inhabit calm, vegetated wetlands of nearly any size, ranging from small ponds to large lakes and reservoirs. Look for them on waters with abundant emergent plants, which provide food resources and nesting cover.
Similar Species
The pied-billed grebe’s nondescript plumage can make it a tricky bird for beginners to identify. But they can be distinguished from other wetland birds by their diving habit, blunt triangular bill, and stocky profile.
Some key species to compare them to include:
Eared Grebe
Close relatives of pied-billed grebes that occupy similar wetland habitats. But eared grebes are more slender with a pointed bill. Their black-and-white breeding plumage and red eyes are distinctive.
Coots
Brown waterbirds that can superficially resemble diving grebes. But coots have an all-white bill and shield on the forehead. They also walk well on land, unlike grebes.
Ducks
Some diving ducks have similarly shaped heads and necks as grebes. But ducks cannot dive as well. Look for the duck’s thicker neck and flatter, wider bill.
Rails
Small secretive marsh birds that often swim with just their head and neck visible like grebes do. But rails have extremely long toes and show stripes through the face versus a bold stripe down the neck.
Identification Tips
Here are some key points for confidently identifying pied-billed grebes:
- Look for a solitary small diving bird with a very short, thick neck and chunky body shape.
- Note the thick, triangular bill with a bold dark band across the middle.
- Watch for frequent, abrupt dives and the habit of swimming low in the water.
- Listen for the loud, ringing, territorial “kuk-kuk-kuk” call given by breeding birds.
- Be patient and stay quiet if one dives, as it will usually resurface close by.
- With some practice, the stubby silhouette and diving habit make the pied-billed grebe recognizable.
Plumage Details
Focus on the distinctive facial markings to identify pied-billed grebes in breeding plumage. The abrupt black-and-white stripes from the bill through the face are unique. Also note the golden-yellow color at the basal corners of the bill, unlike juvenile birds which lack yellow. Out of breeding season, this striking pattern fades and the bill becomes drab yellow without clear bands. But the stocky shape, diving habit, and blunt bill remain consistent year-round.
Behavior Clues
Pied-billed grebes spend their time on the water diving for food. Watch for them to abruptly submerge and resurface. With practice, you can detect their characteristic shape low in the water even when partially obscured by vegetation. On open water, note how they swim with a low profile, rarely exposing their back. Listen for the loud territorial calls which carry widely and can alert you to look for grebes.
Habitat Preferences
Focus your search around calm wetlands with abundant emergent vegetation, which offer prime habitat for pied-billed grebes. Search along vegetated shorelines and look for the grebe’s thick bill slicing through plants. In migration they may inhabit almost any body of water but prefer small ponds with ample cover.
Conclusion
With their drab plumage pied-billed grebes can blend into marshy habitats. But by learning the field marks like the unique black and white facial pattern, chicken-like bill shape, frequent diving habit, and loud vocalizations, observers can confidently identify this species. Details like the stocky neck, short wings, behavior, and preferred wetland habitats separate them from similar waterbirds once you understand what to look for. Careful observation along with practicing subtle details like bill shape, facial markings, and profile on the water will soon have you adept at spotting pied-billed grebes. Just be patient, move slowly, and enjoy unraveling the identification of this common but inconspicuous wetland diver.
