Pied-billed Grebe - Ross Feldner This small, inconspicuous grebe has a secret. In addition to being expert divers, they can alter their buoyancy by trapping water in their feathers allowing them to sink down or stay at the surface of the water. This “trick” lets them control how much of their body is seen. They sport an unusually thick bill that enables them to eat larger crustaceans, fish, insects and amphibians. Their name comes from their most distinguishing characteristic: the pied, or two-colored bill which is bluish-white with a distinct black vertical bar on either side. Preferring to stay hidden in vegetation they are rarely seen in flight but can be identified by the strange gobbling, cooing and whinnying noises they make. Pied-billed Grebes are the most widespread grebe in America but almost never seen in flocks. Often you will see a solitary grebe in a small pond. | |
