Pied-Billed Grebe - (Podilymbus podiceps)

The Pied-Billed Grebe can be found wintering in Imperial Valley ponds and lakes where it dives for minnows and crayfish, crushing them in its bill which has a distinctive black ring. Usually seen alone or in small groups; it is also seen here at the Salton Sea. When they dive, they usually surface far away. I have observed American Coots "attacking" them and trying to scare them into dropping the food they have found. Usually the grebe just dives under the water and surfaces farther away from the Coot.

If you are interested in learning more about this bird online - I recommend you start with the Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/infocenter.html

They present photographs, songs, identification tips, maps, and life history information for North American birds - including the Pied-Billed Grebe

OTHER OUTSIDE LINKS FOR THIS BIRD:

Pied-Billed Grebe - Nature guide displayed by New Hampshire Public Television's "Nature Works" Web site.

The following "WAV" format sound file is provided by Doug Van Gausig of Sedona, Arizona, as part of the "Sounds of Nature" Web site:

http://users.sedona.net/~dougvg/pbgrebe.wav - Pied-Bill Grebe calling

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This site is maintained by:

Eldon R. Caldwell
Imperial Valley College
Email: eldonc@imperial.cc.ca.us