piedbilled grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:
General:

• Length: 9 inches

• 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

Adult basic:

• Horn-colored bill without black ring

• Brown throat

Adult alternate:

• Black ring around horn-colored bill

• Whitish throat

Juvenile:

• Black and white striping about head

Similar Species:

All other grebes have thinner bills and quite different plumage.

 

LIFE HISTORY
Migration Status: N/A
Breeding Habitat: Wetland-open water
Nest Location: N/A
Nest Type: N/A
Clutch Size: 3-10
Length of Incubation: 23 days
Days to Fledge:?
Number of Broods: 1, 2 in south
Diet: Mostly aquatic invertebrates; lesser quantities of fish, reptiles and
   amphibians

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May Acc
      Su - Summer: June, July, August
      Fall: September, October, November R

      Winter: December, January, February R

 

 

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