Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)

Eared Grebe
Podiceps nigricollis

The *Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)* breeds across much of the western United States and southern Canada and winters in the southern United States, predominately the west, as well as into Mexico. In the breeding season, the bird has a black neck and head with bright yellow feathers in a sort of fan shape on the side of its face. In the winter it is much more subdued in coloration. The first shot shown here is a bird in winter plumage in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in November, 2005. It was photographed with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 600mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.
The next two shots at right show an Eared Grebe in winter plumage at Balmorhea Lake, Reeves Co., Texas, in November, 2006. The shots were taken with the same equipment as the previous image.

The next 4 shots were taken at Benton Lake N.W.R., Cascade Co., Montana, in June, 2007, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 600mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender. Eared Grebes in breeding plumage appear quite different than they do in the winter. The 4th shot shows a chick riding on an adults back and being fed by another adult.



The next 13 images were taken in June, 2007 at Medicine Lake N.W.R., Sheridan Co., Montana. The bird shown here has a chick riding on its back.
As I slowly drove my truck along a dirt road next to a marsh I saw a tiny Eared Grebe chick swimming in the water near its parents. Alarmed by my presence, the chick swam toward one of its parents for safety, and before I could get my large, 600mm Lens pointed out of the window, the chick was climbing up onto the adult's back. The shot shown here shows the chick as it quickly began to climb aboard.
In the next two shots the chick is paddling its feet furiously as it climbs on the adult's back.

Finally safely aboard, the chick relaxes and enjoys the ride.


Are we there yet, mom?





The next 3 images of a mostly breeding plumaged Eared Grebe were taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in April, 2008, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and an EF 600mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.


The basic plumaged Eared Grebe shown here was at Balmorhea Lake, Reeves Co., Texas, in January, 2009. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 800mm F/5.6 L IS lens and 1.4X extender.
The next 2 shots show Eared Grebes in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, on the same date in early April, 2009, in Austin, Travis Co., Texas. The first shot shows a bird still in basic plumage while the next shot shows a bird mostly in alternate plumage. Both images were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 800mm F/5.6 L IS lens and 1.4X extender.

The Eared Grebe in winter plumage shown here was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in January, 2010.
The basic plumaged Eared Grebe in the next three images was at Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in March, 2012.


Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis basic plumage Balmorhea Lake, Reeves Co., Texas 16 December 2013
Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis basic plumage Balmorhea Lake, Reeves Co., Texas 16 December 2013
Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis basic plumage Balmorhea Lake, Reeves Co., Texas 16 December 2013
Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis basic plumage Balmorhea Lake, Reeves Co., Texas 16 December 2013
Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis basic plumage Balmorhea Lake, Reeves Co., Texas 16 December 2013
Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis basic plumage Balmorhea Lake, Reeves Co., Texas 16 December 2013