Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritus
Also known as the “Slavonian Grebe”, Horned Grebes breed in vegetated areas of freshwater lakes across Europe and Asia. They also breed in remote inland areas of the United States and much of Canada. In winter, they move to coastal areas of the continents where they summer. In North America, after breeding inland, we can find them on the Pacific Coast in the west, and the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and southeastern USA in the east.
Today’s taxonomists recognise two subspecies of Horned Grebe:
- P. a. cornutus breeds in central Alaska to central Canada and the northern tier of the USA, to the Great Lakes. They spend winters from the Aleutian Islands and along the Pacific coast to California and from the Canadian Maritime Provinces south to Texas.
- P. a. auritus breeds in the middle latitudes of Eurasia, from Iceland to Kamchatka. They spend winters from the North Sea to the Caspian and off the Japanese and Chinese coasts.
I met my first Horned Grebe in Fairbanks (Alaska) in 2005. Later, I enjoyed watching them fish in the shallow waters of south San Diego Bay near my home base in California. More recently, I met these grebes in their winter plumage on the Pacifi8c Coast while heading north on my Canadian expedition in 2022, and later on that same trip, on their breeding grounds in northern Canada. These birds undergo quite a dramatic transformation between summer and winter. The bold, rich coloring and the horns of summer fade into blacks, whites and grays in winter, but they never lose those bright ruby red eyes.
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
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Description: Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:02:16 9:26 |
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Location:
Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X6748-HornedGrebe |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
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Description: Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:02:16 9:27 |
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Location:
Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X6754-HornedGrebe |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
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Description: Surfacing from a dive at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:02:16 10:26 |
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Location:
Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X7020-HornedGrebe |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
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Description: Foraging at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:02:16 10:26 |
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Location:
Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X7021-HornedGrebe |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
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Description: Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:02:16 10:26 |
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Location:
Chula Vista Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X7022-HornedGrebe |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
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Description: South San Diego Bay, California. |
Date Taken: 2006:03:04 11:56 |
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Location:
Boal |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 490 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD2164HornedGrebe |
| © 2006 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
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Description: Airport Ponds, Fairbanks, Alaska. |
Date Taken: 2005:07:03 15:42 |
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Location:
Creamer' Dairy |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 |
File Name: JCD7306HornedGrebe |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
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Description: First light at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:01:22 7:50 |
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Location:
Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X0420-HornedGrebe |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
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Description: I left Whitehorse, intent on retracing my steps getting there. My first stop was the pond I found five miles south of Jakes Corner. I’d hoped the Horned Grebes might have babies to show off, but I believe they were still incubating. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:19 10:58 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8502855-Tagish.YK_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
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Description: I left Whitehorse, intent on retracing my steps getting there. My first stop was the pond I found five miles south of Jakes Corner. I’d hoped the Horned Grebes might have babies to show off, but I believe they were still incubating. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:19 10:21 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8502478-Tagish.YK_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
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Description: I left Whitehorse, intent on retracing my steps getting there. My first stop was the pond I found five miles south of Jakes Corner. I’d hoped the Horned Grebes might have babies to show off, but I believe they were still incubating. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:19 10:21 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8502465-Tagish.YK_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
|
Description: I left Whitehorse, intent on retracing my steps getting there. My first stop was the pond I found five miles south of Jakes Corner. I’d hoped the Horned Grebes might have babies to show off, but I believe they were still incubating. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:19 10:20 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8502435-Tagish.YK_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
|
Description: I left Whitehorse, intent on retracing my steps getting there. My first stop was the pond I found five miles south of Jakes Corner. I’d hoped the Horned Grebes might have babies to show off, but I believe they were still incubating. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:19 10:13 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8502424-Tagish.YK_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
|
Description: I left Whitehorse, intent on retracing my steps getting there. My first stop was the pond I found five miles south of Jakes Corner. I’d hoped the Horned Grebes might have babies to show off, but I believe they were still incubating. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:19 10:13 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8502420-Tagish.YK_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
|
Description: I left Whitehorse, intent on retracing my steps getting there. My first stop was the pond I found five miles south of Jakes Corner. I’d hoped the Horned Grebes might have babies to show off, but I believe they were still incubating. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:19 10:13 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8502416-Tagish.YK_ |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
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Description: Horned Grebes caught my attention on my last day of driving to Whitehorse. I made one memorable stop during the meandering drive through the Yukon from Teslin to Whitehorse. Just south of Jakes Corner on Tagish Road was a shallow pond with an interesting array of birds. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:09 11:39 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8509207-Tagish.YK-Roadside |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
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Description: Horned Grebes caught my attention on my last day of driving to Whitehorse. I made one memorable stop during the meandering drive through the Yukon from Teslin to Whitehorse. Just south of Jakes Corner on Tagish Road was a shallow pond with an interesting array of birds. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:09 11:25 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8509059-Tagish.YK-Roadside |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
|
Description: Horned Grebes caught my attention on my last day of driving to Whitehorse. I made one memorable stop during the meandering drive through the Yukon from Teslin to Whitehorse. Just south of Jakes Corner on Tagish Road was a shallow pond with an interesting array of birds. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:09 11:21 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8508998-Tagish.YK-Roadside |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
|
Description: Horned Grebes caught my attention on my last day of driving to Whitehorse. I made one memorable stop during the meandering drive through the Yukon from Teslin to Whitehorse. Just south of Jakes Corner on Tagish Road was a shallow pond with an interesting array of birds. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:09 11:21 |
|
Location:
Jakes Corner |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8509000-Tagish.YK-Roadside |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
|
Description: Horned Grebes caught my attention on my last day of driving to Whitehorse. I made one memorable stop during the meandering drive through the Yukon from Teslin to Whitehorse. Just south of Jakes Corner on Tagish Road was a shallow pond with an interesting array of birds. |
Date Taken: 2022:06:09 11:21 |
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Location:
Jakes Corner |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8508996-Tagish.YK-Roadside |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
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Description: When I spotted Barrow’s Goldeneyes at the Quartermaster Marina, we stopped to take a few pictures of the grebes, scoters and buffleheads that share the water with them. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:14 14:46 |
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Location:
Burton |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8502613-VashonIsland |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
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Description: The channel behind Umpqua Triangle Oysters in Winchester Bay (Oregon), treated me to Bufflehead and Horned Grebes. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:01 12:17 |
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Location:
Winchester Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/9.0, 1/800 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8509418-WinchesterBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
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Description: Horned Grebes were good at finding food as they foraged in the close company of Surf and White-Winged Scoters just off Coos Bay’s South Jetty. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:30 17:48 |
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Location:
South Jetty |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8509037-CoosBay-SouthJetty |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
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Description: Horned Grebes were good at finding food as they foraged in the close company of Surf and White-Winged Scoters just off Coos Bay’s South Jetty. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:30 17:47 |
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Location:
South Jetty |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8509020-CoosBay-SouthJetty |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
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Description: Past visits to the Crescent City Harbor have shown me it is a worthwhile place to meet seabirds and waterfowl. I expect these Horned Grebes spent the winter in this region, but warmer spring weather will soon call them to fly north and carry them to some inland marsh. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:23 11:27 |
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Location:
Citizen's Dock |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8506293-CrescentCity |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
|
Description: Past visits to the Crescent City Harbor have shown me it is a worthwhile place to meet seabirds and waterfowl. I expect these Horned Grebes spent the winter in this region, but warmer spring weather will soon call them to fly north and carry them to some inland marsh. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:24 9:06 |
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Location:
Crescent City Harbor |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8506698 |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
|
Description: Past visits to the Crescent City Harbor have shown me it is a worthwhile place to meet seabirds and waterfowl. I expect these Horned Grebes spent the winter in this region, but warmer spring weather will soon call them to fly north and carry them to some inland marsh. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:24 9:06 |
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Location:
Crescent City Harbor |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8506686 |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus) |
|
Description: Past visits to the Crescent City Harbor have shown me it is a worthwhile place to meet seabirds and waterfowl. I expect these Horned Grebes spent the winter in this region, but warmer spring weather will soon call them to fly north and carry them to some inland marsh. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:24 9:34 |
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Location:
Crescent City Harbor |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 |
File Name: HornedGrebe_8506769-CrescentCityHarbor |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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