Pied-billed Grebe
Grebe ( Podilymbus podiceps )
The Grebe ( Podilymbus podiceps ) is a species of bird in the family of grebes ( Podicipedidae ). In the southwest and western Europe this nearktisch common type occurs occasionally as Irrgast. Recently, some observations from Central Europe are known.
Features
The Grebe reaches a mature height 31-38 inches and a weight of 250-575 grams. It is a small, powerful bird with a brown - white plumage and a short, curved beak. Striking is the black vertical strips, which extends approximately to the center of the bill. He also has a black throat patch.
Occurrence
The range of the nominate race ( P. p. Podiceps ) extends from northern Canada across the U.S. and Mexico to north- western South America. Another subspecies ( P. p. Antarcticus ) lives in eastern and southern South America, and a third ( P. p. Antillarum ) on the islands of the Caribbean. Seldom get lost in storms devious Grebe to Europe. The extinct Atitlántaucher was a relative.
During the breeding season, he keeps himself to standing inland waters with dense reed belts. The populations of the southern United States and Central and South America are resident birds; drawn from the northern United States and Canada Grebe outside the breeding season south and spend the winter primarily in Central America. On the train the Grebe collect on larger lakes and in brackish estuaries.
Way of life
The diet consists of small fish, crustaceans and aquatic insects. If danger of loss Grebe dives under slowly and appeared in the reeds on either.
The breeding ground is aggressively defends against conspecifics and other waterfowl. The pair cohesion is strengthened by the fact that they perform a kind of victory dance after successfully distributing an intruder. In this case, the pair of birds on the water rises to erect, the two birds look at each other and twist and turn.
The Grebe breeds in a well-hidden, floating nest of dead marsh plants. The nest consists of five to seven whitish eggs with brown spots.