Western Grebe

Aechmophorus occidentalis

Also known as:dabchick, swan grebe, swan-necked grebe

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

64 cm (25") Locally abundant. Summers on marshes and lakes, winters on coastal waters, some inland lakes.

Goose-sized grebe with a long swan-like neck. Contrasting black and white, black above, white below; black cap extends below the eye; long thin pointed greenish-yellow bill.

Winters mostly on Pacific Coast, some on East Coast. Similar Clark's Grebe has an orange-yellow bill and its black cap stops just above the eye.

Song: loud two-note "creek creek".

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

BBC Life: The Grebes

Credit: heavenshield

Clark's and Western Grebe

Credit: Ruedi Abbühl

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.

Western Grebe

2 rules

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 6

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: 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) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Upcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:710-western-grebe:1:1 Source: 710 Western Grebe, row 1

Rule 2 13 criteria confidence 2

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: 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) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Upcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:710-western-grebe:2:1 Source: 710 Western Grebe, row 2