Pied-billed Grebe (Grèbe à bec bigarré) (Oiseaux du Québec)

Pied-billed Grebe (Grèbe à bec bigarré)

Podilymbus podiceps

Summary ⁷

The Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) is a species of the grebe family of water birds. Since the Atitlán Grebe (Podilymbus gigas) has become extinct, it is the sole extant member of the genus Podilymbus. The Pied-billed Grebe is primarily found in ponds throughout the Americas. Other names of this grebe include American dabchick, dabchick, Carolina grebe, devil-diver, dive-dapper, dipper, hell-diver, pied-billed dabchick, thick-billed grebe, and water witch.

Statut ⁸

Status : NM, He(4)

Date d'arrivée record: 7/03/1964 (Côte-Sainte-Catherine)
Date de départ record: 13/01/1991 (LaSalle)

Mentions rares d'hivernage et de nidification
H: Bonne Espérence (hiver 1915-1916)
H: Magog (13/02/1976)
H: Dégelis (11/02, 4/03/1978)
H: Victoriaville (22/02-4/03/1987)
H: Rivière-du-Loup (9/01-23/02/2002)
H: Maple Grove (7-12/01/2002)
H: Beauharnois (8-25/02/2002)
H: Amqui (12/12/2001-29/01/2002)
H: Valleyfield (17/02/2002)
H: Beauharnois (-9/02/2003)

Podilymbus podiceps ⁹

A small (13 inches) grebe, the Pied-billed Grebe in summer is most easily identified by its gray-brown body, black chin, and conspicuous black bill stripe. In winter, this species loses its black facial adornments, becoming plain gray-brown overall. Male and female Pied-billed Grebes are similar to one another in all seasons. The Pied-billed Grebe breeds across much of the United States, southern Canada, and the northern half of Mexico. In winter, northerly-breeding Pied-billed Grebes abandon their breeding grounds and migrate south as far as southern Mexico and Central America; populations that breed further south are non-migratory. Other non-migratory populations exist in the West Indies, at isolated sites in Central America, and in South America south to central Argentina. Pied-billed Grebes breed on small lakes and ponds, preferring heavily vegetated areas for nest-building and more open areas for feeding. This species utilizes similar habitat types in winter as in summer. Pied-billed Grebes primarily eat small fish, insects, and crustaceans. In appropriate habitat, Pied-billed Grebes may be observed floating low in the water, periodically diving down to capture prey. Many birdwatchers learn to appreciate the Pied-billed Grebe’s ability to quickly sink into the water with minimal surface disturbance when, after returning their attention to the water after a momentary distraction, they discover the bird has “vanished” without a trace. Pied-billed Grebes are primarily active during the day, but migrating birds fly mainly at night.

Threat Status: Least concern