Grebes
Eared Grebe
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Podiceps nigricollis
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How to recognize it
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Pigeon-sized, slightly smaller than Red-necked Grebe
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Breeding plumage: black head and neck, golden tufts behind the eye
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Winter plumage: dark grey cap, grey front of neck
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Rufous flanks, white underparts; on water the neck sits upright
About the species
The eared grebe spends most of its time on the water and keeps an upright neck while swimming. If disturbed, it prefers to dive rather than fly, which makes it easy to remember on a lake or river.
It is a highly social species. Outside the breeding season it gathers in flocks, and in spring it often nests in colonies; its voice is varied, with trills and short calls.
Look for it on still or slow-moving water with patches of aquatic plants, and even on mountain rivers during migration. It feeds mainly on aquatic invertebrates, and in northern parts of its range it is migratory.
Where to find
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Along quiet ponds, canal edges, and backwaters with reedbeds — on open water, Eared Grebe often keeps in loose flocks and dives with barely a splash.
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On slow river side-channels and sheltered inlets — look for the upright neck and quick dips under to feed.
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During migration, scan large reservoirs and coastal lagoons — especially where the waterline is fringed with reeds and gulls are feeding nearby.
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Early in the morning on wider stretches of water — it surfaces only briefly before slipping under again.
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On flooded quarries and vegetated backwaters — often stays away from the shore, appearing just as a small dark shape low on the water.
