Photo: dominic sherony / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Western Grebe
Aechmophorus occidentalis
Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) — Grebes, Loons & Flamingos of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) is a member of the Podicipedidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 1.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Podicipediformes
- Family Podicipedidae Grebes
- Genus Aechmophorus
- Species occidentalis
Where it lives
West-central Canada to north-central, southwestern USA and central Mexico
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.1 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Podicipedidae
- Order
- Podicipediformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Western Grebe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Western Grebe is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) belongs to the Podicipedidae family of the order Podicipediformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA wc Canada to nc, sw USA and c Mexico.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 18.5 cm and a tail of around 3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Western Grebe?
The Western Grebe is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.
Where does the Western Grebe live?
The Western Grebe is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA wc Canada to nc, sw USA and c Mexico, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Western Grebe belong to?
The Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) belongs to the Podicipedidae family, in the order Podicipediformes.
What does the Western Grebe eat?
The Western Grebe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Western Grebe migrate?
The Western Grebe is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Western Grebe endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Western Grebe make?
1 real field recording of the Western Grebe — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Western Grebe's range?
The Western Grebe has a mapped global range of about 4.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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