THE AMERICAN EARED GREBE. 887 
as high as a hundred and fifty of them feeding upon the shallows in the space 
of five acres, as the tide was coming in. It is at such times they raise a 
curious far-sounding note of complaint, keogh keogh with a nasal twang—or 
more sharply, keark keark, or even yark yark. 
No. 358. 
AMERICAN EARED GREBE. 
A. O. U. No. 4. Colymbus nigricollis californicus ( Heerm.). 
Description.—Adult in breeding plumage: A broad fan-shaped patch of 
lengthened feathers on side of head, chiefly behind eye, rich straw-yellow to 
golden-brown; remainder of head and neck (including a prominent crest) and 
chest, jet black; upperparts blackish, sometimes washed on upper back with 
rufous; primaries chocolate-brown, washed with duller brownish; secondaries 
chiefly white; sides broadly rich rufous or wine-red—this color washed across 
breast below black and across crissum and so surrounding silky grayish white of 
lower breast and belly. Bill black; feet dull olive, blackening on soles; eyes flam- 
ing scarlet, their lids orange. Adult im winter: Upperparts and sides grayish 
dusky, blackening on top of head and neck (narrowly); no rufous; no unusual 
feathers or crests on head; throat and cheeks white; thus an obscurely colored 
dusky and white bird, difficult to distinguish superficially from the Horned 
Grebe, C. awritus, in winter. Length: 12.00-14.00 ( 304.8-355.6) ; wing about 
5.00 (127); bill 1.00 (25.4), depth at nostril .22 (5.6), width .26 (6.6); tarsus 
1.60 (40.6). 
Recognition Marks.—Teal size; single black crest and fan-shaped yellow 
auricular patches distinctive in breeding plumage. In winter plumage very diffi- 
cult to distinguish from the Horned Grebe ;—however, note size, averaging 
smaller; somewhat darker colored upperparts; more distinct wash of dusky on 
chest ; less trace of special feathering on head; bill of different proportions, some- 
what flattened at base. 
Nesting.—Nests in colonies. Nest: a floating raft of rootlets, moss, and 
light water-plants, moored in the deeper water at edge of swamp. Eggs: 3-8, 
light greenish blue, rapidly fading and becoming nest-stained. Ay. size, 1.75 x 
1.20 (44.5 X 30.5). Season: c. June 15; one brood. 
General Range.—Western North America, north to Great Slave Lake, east 
to the Mississippi, south to Guatemala, breeding thrvout its range. 
Range in Washington.—Not common winter resident thruout the State, 
breeding in extensive colonies upon lakes of East-side only. 
Authorities.—|Podiceps californicus Heer., Cooper and Suckley, Rep. Pac. 
R. R. Surv. Vol. XII. 1860, p. 282. “St. Mary’s Valley (W. T.),” (Wyoming 
Territory). Not a valid Washington record.|  [‘‘American eared grebe,” John- 
son, Rep. Gov. W. T. 1884 (1885), 23.] Keck, Wilson Bulletin, No. 47, June 
1404, Vol. XVI. p. 33: 
Specimens.—P". C. 
