Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

© 2025
Share   
0 recent observations

Brief #

Mainly brown, with a darker crown and back, bill is light grey.

Synonyms #

  • Zampullín picogrueso (Spanish)
  • Mergullón de bico groso (Galician)

Red List Status #

The Pied-billed Grebe is unlikely to become extinct in the near future.
Find out more about IUCN's Red List program here

Description #

Mainly brown, with a darker crown and back. They do not have white visible under their wings when flying, like other grebes. Their undertail is white and they have a short, blunt chicken-like bill that is a light grey color, which in summer is encircled by a broad black band (hence the name). In the summer, its throat is black. There is no sexual dimorphism. Juveniles have black and white stripes and look more like winter adults. This grebe does not have webbed feet. Its toes have lobes that come out of the side of each toe. These lobes allow for easy paddling. When flying, the feet appear behind the body due to the feet's placement in the far back of the body. It may be confused with the least grebe, although that species is much smaller and has a thinner bill.

Measurements #

Length: 31 - 38 cm
Wingspan: 45 - 62 cm