Western Grebe
Aechmophorus occidentalis
Male Western Grebes are large, slender waterbirds with striking black and white plumage, a long, slender neck, and a long, pointed, yellowish-green bill. They share a similar appearance with females, but males tend to have a slightly larger body and a longer, thicker bill. Their red eyes are surrounded by dark coloration, and the black and white coloration is sharply divided, with a black cap extending down the back and a white underside.
• Size and Shape: Western Grebes are among the largest grebes in North America, with a length of 55-75 cm and a wingspan of 21 cm. They have a slender body, a long, swan-like neck, and a long, pointed bill.
• Plumage: They are predominantly black and white, with a clear division between the dark upperparts (including the head, neck, and back) and the white underparts. The black extends down the face, below the eyes.
• Bill and Eyes: The bill is typically yellowish-green and straight, while the eyes are bright red. The bill is a key feature for distinguishing them from Clark's Grebes, which have a slightly upturned, brighter orange-yellow bill.
• Sex Differences: While both sexes look similar, males generally have a larger body and a longer, thicker bill.
A female Western Grebe is a slender, graceful waterbird similar in appearance to the male but generally smaller, with a shorter, thinner, and slightly upturned bill. Both sexes have a black crown, a long, sharply pointed yellowish-green bill, a long neck that is black on top and white underneath, a narrow, sooty-black body, and bright red eyes. Females are distinguished by their smaller size and the distinctive shape of their bill.
• Size and Shape: Female Western Grebes are smaller than males, with a more compact body.
• Bill: The female's bill is noticeably shorter and thinner than the male's, and it may appear slightly upturned.
• Coloration: Both sexes share the same overall black and white coloration, with a black crown, a long black and white neck, a black back, and a white underside.
• Other Features: They both have bright red eyes, a long, sharp bill, and a narrow, sooty-black body.
• Distinguishing from Clark's Grebe: While similar to Clark's Grebe, Western Grebes have a yellowish-green bill (Clark's has an orange bill), darker coloration on the face extending below the eyes, and a wider black stripe on the back of the neck.
• Size and Shape: Western Grebes are among the largest grebes in North America, with a length of 55-75 cm and a wingspan of 21 cm. They have a slender body, a long, swan-like neck, and a long, pointed bill.
• Plumage: They are predominantly black and white, with a clear division between the dark upperparts (including the head, neck, and back) and the white underparts. The black extends down the face, below the eyes.
• Bill and Eyes: The bill is typically yellowish-green and straight, while the eyes are bright red. The bill is a key feature for distinguishing them from Clark's Grebes, which have a slightly upturned, brighter orange-yellow bill.
• Sex Differences: While both sexes look similar, males generally have a larger body and a longer, thicker bill.
A female Western Grebe is a slender, graceful waterbird similar in appearance to the male but generally smaller, with a shorter, thinner, and slightly upturned bill. Both sexes have a black crown, a long, sharply pointed yellowish-green bill, a long neck that is black on top and white underneath, a narrow, sooty-black body, and bright red eyes. Females are distinguished by their smaller size and the distinctive shape of their bill.
• Size and Shape: Female Western Grebes are smaller than males, with a more compact body.
• Bill: The female's bill is noticeably shorter and thinner than the male's, and it may appear slightly upturned.
• Coloration: Both sexes share the same overall black and white coloration, with a black crown, a long black and white neck, a black back, and a white underside.
• Other Features: They both have bright red eyes, a long, sharp bill, and a narrow, sooty-black body.
• Distinguishing from Clark's Grebe: While similar to Clark's Grebe, Western Grebes have a yellowish-green bill (Clark's has an orange bill), darker coloration on the face extending below the eyes, and a wider black stripe on the back of the neck.