Horned Grebe

Podiceps auritus

Also known as:Slavonian Grebe, devil-diver, hell-diver, pink-eyed diver, water witch.

Explore this bird

Identification

30-38 cm (12-15") Common. Summers on marshes and lakes, winters on coastal waters, Great Lakes.

Pigeon-sized duck-like bird. Short sharply pointed bill; red eyes.

In flight, white wing patch.

Summer: reddish-brown neck, breast and sides; black head; golden ear tufts; black bill.

Winter: dark crown and upperparts; white cheek patch is level with eye; white throat and breast; pale bill.

Song: usually silent; on breeding ground a series of croaks, shrieks.

Details in the field

1 photo

Credit: Larry Bond

Watch and learn

1 video

Slavonian (Horned) Grebe (Podiceps auritus) incubation shift

Credit: Espen Bergersen

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 2 rules

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

2 rules

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 6

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) · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the NECK ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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

result:705-horned-grebe:1:1 Source: 705 Horned Grebe, row 1

Rule 2 13 criteria confidence 6

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) · 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 · 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 colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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

result:705-horned-grebe:2:1 Source: 705 Horned Grebe, row 2