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Western Grebes

Aechmophorus occidentalis

1 Species ID Suggestions

Western grebes
Aechmophorus occidentalis


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12 Comments

Jacob Gorneau
Jacob Gorneau 11 years ago

I have added clearer photos, including one of the face. It is definitely a Western Grebe. Thank you all for the great help!

Liam
Liam 12 years ago

Yes, a show showing the faces will definitely help.

DavidMroczkowski
DavidMroczkowski 12 years ago

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Clark...
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Weste...
I'm looking for to seeing more photos. I think if you have one of the faces you'll see the Clark's has white surrounding the eye, whereas the Western had dark feathers around the eyes.

Jacob Gorneau
Jacob Gorneau 12 years ago

Although I visited California in the summer, the guide showed us examples of both grebes. The ones in this picture have fairly orange beaks. I'll upload some more photos soon.

Liam
Liam 12 years ago

I don't think I can tell from this picture, but I believe by range the Clark's Grebe is year-round resident in the mapped location, while Western Grebes winter along the California Coast.
What color are the bills? Clark's Grebes are said to have paler bills than Western Grebes. (I'm colorblind, so I can't tell.)

Jacob Gorneau
Jacob Gorneau 12 years ago

Is there anyway to confirm the grebes' being Western or Clark's

Jacob Gorneau
Jacob Gorneau 12 years ago

Yes my map is misplaced. Thanks for the reminder!

Liam
Liam 12 years ago

Neither the Western Grebe nor the Clark's Grebe are found in New York. Your map must me misplaced.

smutnee80
smutnee80 12 years ago

very nice action photo

Ava T-B
Ava T-B 12 years ago

Probably Western Grebe Aechmorphorus occidentalis

Jacob Gorneau
Jacob Gorneau 12 years ago

Yes that's what I was unaware of myself.

DavidMroczkowski
DavidMroczkowski 12 years ago

Those are grebes, but I'm not sure which species.

Jacob Gorneau
Spotted by
Jacob Gorneau

Santa Barbara, California, USA

Spotted on Jul 4, 2010
Submitted on Jan 25, 2012

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