Horned Grebe -- South Dakota Birds
| Length: 12-14 | Wingspan: 24 inches | Seasonality: Migrant/Summer |
| ID Keys: Black head with golden ear tufts, reddish neck, dark bill | ||
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritus
A widespread grebe, also found in Europe and Asia. Often relatively tame, allowing fairly close approach by humans. Not as gregarious as many of the grebes, and doesn't breed in the large colonies that other grebes sometimes do. The Horned Grebe is similar to the Eared Grebe, but can best be differentiated in summer plumage by the reddish neck (the Eared Grebe has a blackish neck).
Habitat: Lakes, ponds, reservoirs. Prefers areas having both open water and wetland vegetation.
Diet: Mostly insects and crustaceans during summers in South Dakota, also fish, amphibians, leeches, and some plant material.
Nesting: June and July
Song: A harsh kyark-kyark.
Migrations: Summers in extreme northern U.S. the western 2/3rds of Canada, and Alaska. Generally winters along North American coastlines and large inland water bodies in the south.
Similar Species: Eared Grebe
Status: Possibly in long-term decline.
Further Information: 1)
USGS
Patuxent
Bird Identification InfoCenter, Horned Grebe
2) Cornell University's "All About Birds - Horned Grebe"
Photo Information: April 8th, 2007 - Wall Lake, Minnehaha County - Terry L. Sohl
Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Horned Grebe photos.
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Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl
This page was last edited on 02/03/08