Western Grebe
Aechmophorus occidentalis
In earlier times and in some places, we knew the Western Grebe as “dabchick”, “swan grebe” and “swan-necked grebe”. It was long thought the Clark’s Grebe was a smaller, pale morph of the Western Grebe, which it resembles in size, range, and behavior. Studies during the 1980s led science to recognise these as separate species. Looking at their black crests, the Western’s extend into or even below the eyeline, while the Clark’s crest sits higher and passes above the eye. The bill color of the Clark’s is yellower than the Western’s, and there is a slight upturn to their bill shape. When we find these two grebe species near each other, the Western Grebes seem to forage nearer the shoreline than their cousins. Observers believe this is because the Clark’s Grebes prefer finding their food in deeper water.
Science recognises two subspecies of Western Grebes:
- A. o. occidentalis is larger and darker, and breeds from southwestern Canada through the western USA east to the Great Lakes region in the north, and west of the Great Plains, south to Baja California (Mexico). They spend winters along the coast from British Columbia to Baja California, west-central Mexico, and the deserts of the southwestern USA.
- A. o. ephemeralis is smaller and paler, and lives on the Mexican Plateau from Chihuahua south to the Valley of Mexico.
Like their cousins, the Clark’s Grebes, these birds pair bond by performing a water dance, sometimes called rushing.
Most of my encounters with Western Grebes have been in southern California, but I’ve enjoyed meeting them in Oregon and Utah. Whenever I hear their free-free calls from across the water, it brings a smile to my face.
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32 Photos
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Tijuana River above the river mouth. Imperial Beach, California. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:08 10:16 |
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Location:
Tijuana River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD5247.WesternGrebe |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Fishing at Ramer Lake. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:11:25 15:00 |
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Location:
Ramer Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: Cut_JCD7170.WesternGrebe |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Performing the 'Water Dance' at Ramer Lake. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:11:25 17:14 |
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Location:
Ramer Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD7793.WesternGrebe |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Ramer Lake. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:11:25 17:12 |
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Location:
Ramer Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD7786.WesternGrebe |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Preparing for the "Water Dance" at Ramer Lake. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:11:25 17:07 |
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Location:
Ramer Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1500 |
File Name: JCD7751.WesternGrebe |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Ramer Lake. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:11:25 15:12 |
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Location:
Ramer Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: JCD7286.WesternGrebe |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Fishing at Ramer Lake. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:11:25 15:00 |
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Location:
Ramer Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: JCD7170.WesternGrebe |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Fishing at Ramer Lake. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:11:25 15:00 |
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Location:
Ramer Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: JCD7165.WesternGrebe |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Ramer Lake. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2010:12:11 12:20 |
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Location:
Ramer Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/4000 |
File Name: JCD6304_WesternGrebe |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: San Diego River flood control channel. San Diego, California 2010-01-08. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:08 13:41 |
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Location:
Robb Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: JCD5310.WesternGrebe |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Reflecting well at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:01:22 8:34 |
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Location:
Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X0355-WesternGrebe |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Wing stretching at Lake Hodges. San Diego County, California |
Date Taken: 2010:07:31 17:50 |
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Location:
Lake Hodges |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD3416.WesternGrebe |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Lake Hodges is part of the San Dieguito Coast To Crest Trail. San Diego County California 2010-07-31. |
Date Taken: 2010:07:31 17:34 |
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Location:
Lake Hodges |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: JCD3114.WesternGrebe |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Ramer Lake. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:07:05 10:19 |
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Location:
Ramer Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1500 |
File Name: JCD1989.WesternGrebe |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Sitting on eggs at Ramer Lake. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:07:05 10:13 |
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Location:
Ramer Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD1985.WesternGrebe.Nest_ |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Where the Klamath River feeds into Lake Ewauna at Veteran's Park in Klamath Falls Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:05 10:40 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X8710-WesternGrebe |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Water dancing at Lake Hodges. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:08 11:36 |
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Location:
Lake Hodges |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X6839-WesternGrebe |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, 17 miles west of Brigham City Utah. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:12 9:45 |
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Location:
Bear River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X1763-WesternGrebe |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, 17 miles west of Brigham City Utah. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:12 9:28 |
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Location:
Bear River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X1748-WesternGrebe |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Along the Southeastern shoreline of the Salton Sea near the intersection of Lack and Lindsey Roads in Imperial County California. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:11 8:46 |
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Location:
Lack-and-Lindsey-Roads |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: WesternGrebe_D5X0510-LackLindsey |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Preparing to dive. Birds I met in Crescent City California near the boat basin of the harbor. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:11 13:10 |
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Location:
Crescent Harbor |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/18.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternGrebe_D5X2511-CrescentCity |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Birds I met in Crescent City California near the boat basin of the harbor. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:11 13:10 |
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Location:
Crescent City Harbor |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/18.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternGrebe_D5X2496-CrescentCity |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Birds I met in Crescent City California near the boat basin of the harbor. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:11 13:09 |
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Location:
Crescent Harbor |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/18.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternGrebe_D5X2458-CrescentCity |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: South Auto Tour Loop Road at Tule Lake. |
Date Taken: 2016:05:06 14:38 |
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Location:
Lower Klamath NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D721339-WesternGrebe |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Larus philadelphia) |
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Description: Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:23 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729190-WesternGrebe |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Larus philadelphia) |
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Description: Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:12 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729064-WesternGrebe |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Larus philadelphia) |
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Description: Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:25 10:14 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729573-WesternGrebe |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:05:05 6:38 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D720036-WesternGrebe |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Any of four species of grebes, including these Western Grebes, may be found around the Salton Sea. Near Lack & Lindsey Roads. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:13 14:58 |
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Location:
Lack-And-Lindsey-Roads |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X3954-WesternGrebe |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Lake Hodges. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:29 10:28 |
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Location:
Lake Hodges |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X8580-WesternGrebe |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is a large wetland delta where the Bear River terminates in the Great Salt Lake. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:16 9:46 |
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Location:
Bear River Bird Refuge |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: WesternGrebe_D5X4109-BearRiver |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is a large wetland delta where the Bear River terminates in the Great Salt Lake. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:16 9:49 |
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Location:
Bear River Bird Refuge |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternGrebe_D5X4172-BearRiver |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
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