GREBES: Family Colymbidae [ 71 ] 



one from Sauvies Island taken October 5, 1915, and the other from the 

 Willamette River near Portland collected November 9, 1913. As it is 

 recorded as a winter resident from far south along the California coast, 

 it can be looked for in all the small bays on our coast as well as in the 

 larger rivers. The earliest date of arrival noted is August 5 (Douglas 

 County); the latest date in spring, March 6. 



Like the others of its family, this grebe is very awkward in rising from 

 the water but is capable of strong, direct, and sustained flight. In the 

 water it is as graceful as the Western Grebe and makes the same effortless 

 speed under water. It is master of the art of diving, either by the forward 

 plunge or by lowering the body vertically into the water until completely 

 submerged. It is able to regulate its floating powers, so that it rides high 

 on the water or swims with only the head above water. Altogether, it 

 is an interesting citizen that we would be glad to have with us more 

 commonly. 



Little is known about the food habits of Holboell's Grebe in Oregon. 

 Of two stomachs examined, one, from Multnomah County, contained the 

 usual ball of partly digested grebe feathers, water striders, fragments of 

 water beetles and of a bee or wasp, and a scarabid beetle; the other, from 

 Tillamook County, was empty except for the feathers. 



Horned Grebe: 



Colymbus auritus Linnaeus 



DESCRIPTION. One of the smaller grebes that in the adult has crests or ruffs on the 

 cheeks and sides of the head. "Breeding plumage: Sides of head with yellow tufts of 

 silky feathers, rest of head and throat black; upper parts dusky; lower neck, chest, 

 and sides rufous; breast silvery white. Winter adults andyoung; Crests scant or want- 

 ing; throat white; sides with little or no rufous." (Bailey) Downy young: "The 

 downy young is almost black above, striped and spotted with grayish white; there 

 is a median white stripe on the occiput and a white V on the forehead, extending 

 down the sides of the neck in broad irregular stripes; the sides of the head, neck, and 

 throat are white tinged with 'salmon buff' and spotted with dusky; the under parts 

 are white and the sides dusky." (Bent) Si%e: "Length 11.50-15.15, wing about 

 5.75, bill about .85-1.00." (Bailey) Nest: A floating platform of soft vegetation, 

 mixed with mud, usually among tules or other swamp vegetation. Eggs: Usually 3 

 to 5 , sometimes 9 or 10 in one nest, dull bluish white or pale olive white, more or less 

 concealed by nest stains that cannot be entirely removed by washing. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds in North America from Arctic south to northern 

 United States. Winters in United States, principally along coasts. In Oregon: 

 Winters on coast and along larger streams west of Cascades. 



THE HORNED GREBE, a common winter resident of the salt-water bays and 

 inlets along the Oregon coast, is the most abundant of all wintering 

 grebes in the coastal waters and one of the most regularly found of all 

 water birds. It is a less common species on the larger rivers of western 

 Oregon also. From September to May it may be found a miniature 



