Pied-billed Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe Information
Length: 12 - 15"
Habitat:
Breeding: Ponds, marshes, sloughs, marshy edges of lakes and rivers. Requires habitat with some emergent vegetation.
Winter: Coastal bays and inlets, estuaries, large lakes and rivers.
Diet: Fish, aquatic insects, crayfish and other crustaceans, frogs, small amounts of vegetable matter.
Calls of the Pied-billed Grebe
Additional Information
Pied-billed Grebe
Description, distribution, behavior, diet, reproduction, predators, lifespan, and conservation status. Includes photos and range map. (From Wikipedia)
Pied-billed Grebe
Description, habitat, behavior, diet, and nesting. Includes photos and range map. (From BirdWeb)
Pied-billed Grebe
Identification Tips
- Sexes similar
- Small, stocky-bodied grebe with a short, thick bill
- Brown plumage, darker on the crown and back
- White undertail coverts
- Feet set far back on body and trail awkwardly behind body in flight
- Black ring around horn-colored bill
- Whitish throat
- Horn-colored bill without black ring
- Brown throat
- Black and white striping about head
(Credit: U. S. Geological Survey)
Breeding Bird Survey Map,
2011-2015
(Image credit: USGS)
Range in New England
Although found in low numbers, the Pied-billed Grebe breeds throughout New England in the appropriate habitat.
In this region, it can be found wintering in some parts of southern Connecticut, far eastern Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
Winter Sightings Map from eBird
Sightings of the Pied-billed Grebe
Dec-Feb over the past 10 years
(2009-2019)
Christmas Bird Count Map
Historical CBC Map from USGS