Details
Podiceps auritus
The horned grebe is a small diving waterbird with golden head plumes in breeding dress. Pairs breed on northern freshwater wetlands and many birds winter on coasts.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It breeds on marshes, ponds, and shallow lakes in the Palearctic and Nearctic, then uses sheltered bays and estuaries outside the breeding season. Quiet vegetated water is favored.
Length is 31-38 cm and weight 300-570 g. Breeding birds have a black head, golden ear-like plumes, and a reddish neck; winter plumage is pale grey and white.
Diurnal pairs stay close during breeding. Strong diving ability lets them escape underwater rather than taking flight.
A carnivore, it eats aquatic insects, crustaceans, small fish, and tadpoles. It swims underwater in pursuit of prey.
Pairs build floating nests from aquatic plants and share incubation. Chicks ride on the adults' backs before learning to dive for themselves.
It is listed as Vulnerable. Wetland degradation, changes to breeding ponds, oil pollution, and fishing nets in wintering areas are concerns.
