Eared Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis
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)
Distribution
Montana Range
Observations in Montana: 666
Montana CountiesBeaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Dawson, Deer Lodge, Fallon, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley, Granite, Hill, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, Lincoln, Madison, McCone, Meagher, Missoula, Musselshell, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Powell, Prairie, Ravalli, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sanders, Sheridan, Stillwater, Teton, Toole, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, Yellowstone
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)