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Montana Animal Field Guide

Montana Field Guides

Eared Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis

  • Eared Grebe
  • Eared Grebe
  • Eared Grebe
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Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S5B

Agency Status
USFWS: none
USFS: none
BLM: none
CFWCS Tier: 3
PIF: none
 

General Description
Basic plumage of the Eared Grebe is top of head, back o neck, and mantle blackish; rump white; sides, flanks, and front of neck grayish; chin, throat, and belly white; iris is bright red throughout the year. (Cullen, Jehl Jr., and Nuechterlein, 1999)

General Distribution
Montana Range



Western Hemisphere Range

 


Summary of Observations Submitted for Montana
Number of Observations: 711

(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version) Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density

Recency

Breeding
(direct evidence "B")

Breeding
(indirect evidence "b")

No evidence of Breeding
(transient "t")

Overwintering
(regular observations "W")

Overwintering
(at least one obs. "w")


 

(Records associated with a range of dates are excluded from time charts)



Migration
1500 at Ennis Lake, 1958 in May. Bozeman area migration periods: 4/12-6/1 & 8/1-11/30; peaks 5/3 & 10/15.

Habitat
Shallow lakes and ponds with vegetation and macro invertebrate communities, rarely on ponds with fish. They prefer saline habitats at all seasons, allowing them to escape fish predators and have an abundant of invertebrates. (Cullen, Jehl Jr., & Nuechterlein, 1999)

Food Habits
The Eared Grebe takes a large variety of aquatic prey, mainly invertebrates, small crustations, insects, and less often small fish, mollusks, amphibians. (Cullen, Jehl Jr., & Nuechterlein, 1999)

Reproductive Characteristics
Nesting can range from April to August, generally May to early July. Eggs are laid in 1 day intervals but the female may also skip days. Breeding pair divides brood about 10 days after hatch and completely stops parental care 20 days after hatch. There are no 2nd broods documented. (Cullen, Jehl Jr., & Nuechterlein, 1999)

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Citation for data on this website:
Eared Grebe — Podiceps nigricollis.  Montana Field Guide.  Retrieved on February 9, 2010, from http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/detail_ABNCA03030.aspx
 
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