Clark's Grebe
Aechmophorus clarkii
About This Species
Scan large open lakes and reservoirs for a slim, long-necked waterbird riding low with a straight, dagger-like yellow-orange bill and mostly white face below the eye. Breeding pairs perform an elaborate synchronized courtship display, running upright across the water surface side by side, best observed in spring. Outside the breeding season it dives for fish and can be seen singly or in loose groups on open water through summer and into early autumn.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- View from shore or a stationary boat at a distance that does not cause the bird to dive repeatedly or abandon a favored patch of water, since repeated diving to escape observers burns significant energy.
- Nesting colonies build floating platforms in emergent vegetation and are especially vulnerable to boat wake and close approach, which can swamp nests or expose eggs to predators.
- It is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the United States and equivalent migratory bird legislation in Canada, so disturbing nests or handling birds without authorization is illegal in both countries.
LCAvesPodicipediformesPodicipedidae
Seasonal Activity
309,227 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Podicipediformes
- Family
- Podicipedidae
Photo
(c) Greg Lasley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Greg Lasley
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.