The western grebe is a rather large grebe ranging from 22 to 29 inches. Females are smaller than males. Western grebes feed on a variety of saltwater and fresh water fish, worms, crustaceans and insects. Western grebes are social so are often seen in small flocks. A few weeks ago three were foraging and diving for prey in the harbor at Nahcotta.

Grebes are expert divers and lovers of wetland habitat. Here on the Long Beach Peninsula, we are lucky to be able to see five species of grebe.

Pied-billed, horned, and western grebes are the most common. Clark’s grebe is often seen but is considered rare with just over five recorded observations. The red-necked grebe is considered rare to occasional. Most of the grebe sightings on the Peninsula occur in the Ilwaco harbor, Black Lake, O’Neill Lake at Cape D, and the Port of Peninsula in Nahcotta. We see grebes only in fall and winter, except for the pied-billed grebe which is a nesting species here so can be observed in every season. It is a permanent resident.

Even though grebes resemble loons and have some similar behaviors in water, they are totally unrelated. They are not ducks, either, but are considered waterbirds. Their toes are lobed rather than webbed like ducks. Grebes swim and dive very well due to having stream-lined bodies. Their legs are attached to the back of the body to aid them when swimming above or under water. They have great difficulty walking on land due to this positioning. Thus, they spend most of their time in water.

A grebe’s nest is usually floating platform made of plant material that is placed and hidden on beds of aquatic plants. Some grebe species like the pied-billed prefer wetlands with dense cattails and bulrushes. In other words, less open water, and lots of vegetation. Other species prefer more open water and relatively sparse vegetation.

Pied-billed grebe

The pied-billed is one of our smallest grebe. It is also the most secretive species. It is aptly named pied-bill because of the appearance of its bill.. Pied refers to having two or more different colors. Its beak is white and black (pied) and resembles the beak of a hen. The beak, itself is white with a black band around it. This characteristic is one of the best ID markers for the pied-billed grebe. Its back and body are brown, and it sports a black throat. The male is larger than the female, but both wear similar plumage.

Horned grebe

The horned grebe is about the size of a foot-long sub sandwich, plus an inch or two. It is close in size to the pied-billed grebe. It, too, is one of our smallest grebes. The horned grebe is a common migrant in spring and fall. It is also a common winter resident on the Peninsula and environs. I am currently seeing a few at the Port of Peninsula. The best viewing is from the visitor’s parking which looks out onto Willapa Bay.

The horned grebes we see are usually wearing their black and white winter duds. It sports dark upper parts, a white chin and white fore neck. From behind this grebe tends to show more white on the back of the head than other grebes. It is an excellent swimmer and diver. It pursues its prey under water but will also pick insects off the surface of the water. Among its favorite dishes are small fish, crustaceans, and other small aquatic animals.

Red-necked grebe

This species is a fall and winter resident in our area but generally, it is only seen occasionally. It was recently seen in Tokeland. Like other grebe species we only see the red-necked when it is wearing its less colorful garb. Its winter coat is a non-descript dusky-gray. If a bird stays around towards the end of winter you may see the beginnings of its breeding plumage. Its breeding garb includes a distinctive red neck, black cap, pale grey cheeks, and a long, pointed yellowish bill. It breeds on small lakes in Alaska and Canada, but winters along our coast. Like all grebes, the red-necked is an excellent swimmer and an excellent diver. It dives to escape danger and to secure prey. It’s favorite prey includes amphibians, fish, aquatic insects, and mollusks. It is larger in size than the pied-billed or the horned grebe at 18 to 20 inches in length.

Western grebe

This species is a long, slender grebe and ranges from 22 to 29 inches in length. It can be seen in every season but is most common in fall and winter. It winters on open lakes, bays, and ocean. Black Lake and Willapa Bay are among the best places to see this grebe. The western grebe is basically black and white. In winter its bill is “green-tinged yellow.” Breeding birds have bright yellow-orange bills. Its capped crown is black, and its eye is red. Overall it is basically the same color year-round. The white breast, belly and throat are a brilliant white. Females are smaller than the males. The western grebe, like the other grebe species is an excellent diver. It feeds on a variety of saltwater or freshwater fish. It also feasts on crustaceans, worms, and insects.

Clark’s grebe

This species is considered rare in every season. However, it has been reported occasionally in the last few years. It is similar in appearance to the western grebe. Scientists argue that it is a difficult task to tell it apart from the western. Crossley (2021) suggests, concentrating on the bill to help distinguish the two. The Clark’s bill is a brighter lollipop orange compared to the Western’s which is a paler yellow-orange with a hint of green. Crossley also suggests looking for a pale area around the eye. Clark’s grebe feeds on crustaceans as well as saltwater and freshwater fish. It is currently being seen at the Tokeland marina.

It isn’t too late to see grebes in their winter plumage. They are still here. The Port of Peninsula at Nahcotta is an ideal location to see the horned, pied-billed and western grebe. Happy birding!