Eared Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

Also known as:Black-necked Grebe, Eared Diver

Explore this bird

Identification

30-36 cm (12-14") Fairly common. Small Western grebe, summers on marshes and shallow lakes, winters inland and on coastal waters.

Thin upturned bill; red eyes; black-bill; rounded back with rump usually held high in water.

In flight, white wing patch.

Summer: crested black head with golden ear tufts; black neck.

Winter: dark crown; white or gray cheek; whitish ear patch; white throat; grayish neck.

Song: frog-like chirping notes but usually silent.

Details in the field

4 photos

Credit: Hans Zwitzer

Credit: Tom Talbott

Credit: Len Blumin

Credit: Chris Smith

Watch and learn

1 video

Eared Grebe feeding young

Credit: JIceBirdsandMore

Where it lives

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 4 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

4 rules

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 1

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the NECK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Yellow · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:706-eared-grebe:1:1 Source: 706 Eared Grebe, row 1

Rule 2 15 criteria confidence 5

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the NECK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Yellow · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:706-eared-grebe:2:1 Source: 706 Eared Grebe, row 2

Rule 3 14 criteria confidence 1

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the NECK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Fall · Winter
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:706-eared-grebe:3:1 Source: 706 Eared Grebe, row 3

Rule 4 14 criteria confidence 5

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the NECK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Fall · Winter
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:706-eared-grebe:4:1 Source: 706 Eared Grebe, row 4