GREBES 



(4) Colymbus nigricollis 

 californicus 



(Brekm.) (Lat., black-necked). 



EARED GREBE, Bill pointed 

 and slightly recurved. Iris red. Ad. 

 in summer — Plumage as shown; long, 

 conspicuous, tawny colored, auricular 

 tufts. Ad. in winter and Im. — Black- 

 ish-gray above and satiny-white on 

 the under parts; readily distinguished 

 from the Horned Grebe by the dif- 

 ferently shaped bill. L., 13.00; W., 

 5.00; B., i.oo. Nest — A heap of 

 wet, decaying rushes floating among 

 the living ones in sloughs. Eggs — 

 Three to seven, dull white, 1.70 x 1.15. 



Range — Western N. A. Breeds 

 from southern Cal., and northern 

 Neb. north to B. C. and Man. 

 Winters from Cal. southward. Cas- 

 ual east to Mo. and Ind., during 

 migrations. 



Their food consists chiefly of small fish, which they pursue 

 and catch under water. This diet is varied to some e.xtent 

 with frogs, tadpoles, water insects and shellfish. The Pied- 

 billed species appears to live less e.xclusively upon fish than 

 do the others; its flesh is, therefore, not quite as rank but it 

 is a long ways from palatable. 



The nesting habits of our grebes differ only in that the 

 Pied-billed and Holbcell's are more solitary in their habits. 

 The Western, Eared and Horned Grebes usuaUy nest in com- 

 munities or colonies, which accounts for the ease with which 

 they used to be shot during nesting time, for millinery pur- 

 poses. The eggs are practically laid in water, the young 

 are born in water, get their food from the water, often 

 sleep on the water and practically live on the water all 

 their lives. 



The nest is formed of a mass of wet, decaying rushes; 

 sometimes located on fairly stable hummocks, but more 

 often floating about on the water, insecurely attached to 



