Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)

Identification & Behavior: ~30.5 cm (12 in). The Pied-billed Grebe is gray with shades of brown. Adult birds have a distinctive white orbital skin, a pale bill with a black ring, and a black throat. Immature birds are gray and brown and have a yellowish bill without a black ring. Birds in basic or non-breeding plumage are browner and have a pale bill with a faint black ring in the bill. It is distinguished from the White-tufted Grebe and the Least Grebe by the white orbital skin and the thick pale bill with a black ring.

Status: The Pied-billed Grebe is the most common and widespread grebe in the coastal lowlands. Except for a few sightings, it is not known to occur in Andean Lakes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, Bo, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Zambullidor de Pico Grueso.

Sub-species: Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) Linnaeus, 1758.

Meaning of Name:  Podilymbus: one that belongs to the genus Podiceps. podiceps: L. podex, podicis= anus; and pes = foot. A bird of the genus Podiceps that has feet set far towards the tail.

See more of the Family Podicipedidae