Nonbreeding Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)

            Naples Botanical Gardens
Southeaster Florida
USA

The Pied-billed Grebe is common across much of North America. These small brown birds have unusually thick bills that turn silver and black in summer. These expert divers inhabit sluggish rivers, freshwater marshes, lakes, and estuaries. 

They use their chunky bills to kill and eat large crustaceans along with a great variety of fish, amphibians, insects, and other invertebrates. Rarely seen in flight and often hidden amid vegetation, Pied-billed Grebes announce their presence with loud, far-reaching calls.

Their feet are located near their rear ends. This body plan, a common feature of many diving birds, helps grebes propel themselves through water. Lobed (not webbed) toes further assist with swimming. Pied-billed Grebes pay for their aquatic prowess on land, where they walk awkwardly. Pied-billed Grebes are poor fliers and typically stay on the water. 

Pied-billed Grebes can trap water in their feathers, giving them great control over their buoyancy. They can sink deeply or stay just at or below the surface, exposing as much or as little of the body as they wish. The water-trapping ability may also aid in the pursuit of prey by reducing drag in turbulent water. - Wiklipedia

Taken in: United States / Florida / Royal Harbor (show map)

Taken on: December 11, 2019

Tags:

Naples Botanical Gardens

Southwest Florida

Pied-billed Grebe

(Podilymbus podiceps)

Nonbreeding

Common Across North America

Expert Divers

Rivers

Freshwater Marshes

Rarely Seen In Flight

Walk Awkwardly

Fairly Poor Fliers

Sue Roehl

Lumix DMC GH4

COTH5

Sunrays+5 « less

Sets appears in: • Naples Botanical Gardens 60 acre Wildlife Reserve

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