Western Grebe (Aechmorphorus occidentalis)

The Western Grebe (Family: Podicipedidae, Order: Podicipediformes) is a medium sized aquatic bird, with a slender long neck and a long bill. The back of the grebe is black, and its throat is white. Particularily impressive are the ruby-red eyes of the grebe.

The upper half of the face of western grebe is black and that extends to below the eye. The bill of the western grebe has a greenish tinge to it than the Clark's grebe's (Aechmophorus clarkii).

Lake Mendocino, CA
2008-02-04

The photo shows the grebe diving into the water. It stays into the water for a few minutes and it is not easy to predict where it will come up above the water surface. The grebes (Podicipedidae) are more capable of swimming than flying.