Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

Also known as:dabchick, devil-diver, dive-dapper, hell-diver, water witch

Explore this bird

Identification

33 cm (13") Common and widespread. Summers on marshes and lakes, winters also on coastal waters.

Pigeon-sized duck-like bird. Dull brownish overall with a short stubby "chicken-like" white bill; white undertail coverts.

In flight, no wing patch. Shy in breeding season.

Summer: distinctive black ring around bill; black throat.

Winter: less distinct bill ring or no ring around bill; light throat.

Song: "cow" notes, loud barking call notes.

Details in the field

4 photos

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Mike Baird

Credit: Dave Govoni

Credit: Mike Baird

Watch and learn

1 video

Pied-billed Grebes

Credit: Wild Bird and Nature Videos by McElroy Productions

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 4

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: No · 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 ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the NECK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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 ?: Spring · Summer

result:708-pied-billed-grebe:1:1 Source: 708 Pied-billed Grebe, row 1

Rule 2 14 criteria confidence 4

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: No · 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 ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the NECK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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:708-pied-billed-grebe:2:1 Source: 708 Pied-billed Grebe, row 2