Photo: Calibas / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Clark’s Grebe
Aechmophorus clarkii
Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) — 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 Clark’s Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) 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 clarkii
Where it lives
Far southwestern, south-central Canada (local) to 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
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Clark’s 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 Clark’s Grebe is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Clark’s Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) is a member of the Podicipedidae family, within the order Podicipediformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA far sw, sc Canada (local) to c, sw USA and c Mexico.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 19.5 cm and a tail of around 3.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Clark’s Grebe?
The Clark’s Grebe is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.
Where does the Clark’s Grebe live?
The Clark’s Grebe is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA far sw, sc Canada (local) to c, sw USA and c Mexico, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Clark’s Grebe belong to?
The Clark’s Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) belongs to the Podicipedidae family, in the order Podicipediformes.
What does the Clark’s Grebe eat?
The Clark’s Grebe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Clark’s Grebe migrate?
The Clark’s Grebe is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Clark’s 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 Clark’s Grebe make?
1 real field recording of the Clark’s Grebe — including its begging call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Clark’s Grebe's range?
The Clark’s Grebe has a mapped global range of about 3.6 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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