The Western Grebe 



The pace was the same at 12 m. and at 2 p. m.; while at 4 p. m. it had 

 quickened to a showing of 272 birds in two minutes — say, 20,000 or 

 30,000 birds per day. 



Of their occurrence in Alaska, Nelson says: "At Saint Michaels 

 and the Yukon delta they arrive with the first open water from May 12 

 to 20, and by the end of this month are present in large numbers. Their 

 arrival is at once announced by the hoarse, grating cries, which the birds 

 utter as they fly from place to place, or float upon the water. When the 

 ponds are open on the marshes the Red-throated Loons take possession, 

 and are extremely noisy all through the first part of summer. The harsh 

 gr-r-ga gr-r, gr-r-ga, ga, gr-r, rising everywhere from the marshes during 

 the entire twenty-four hours, renders this note one of the most character- 

 istic that greets the ear in spring in these northern wilds." 



No. 420 



Western Grebe 



A. 0. U. No. 1. yEchmophorus occidentalis (Lawrence). 



Description. — Adult: Top of head and broad line down back of neck sooty 

 black; remaining upperparts lighter brownish black, the feathers of the back varied 

 by grayish edgings; primaries dark brown, whitening and with white shafts basally; 

 secondaries chiefly white, but variable number of them darker on outer webs; entire 

 underparts, including lining of wings and sides of head and neck, broadly, pure white 

 with silky sheen, sometimes tinged with brownish gray on sides; lores brownish gray 

 or white. Bill slender, sharply pointed, very slightly recurved, culmen black or 

 blackish, mandible yellow or olivaceous; iris carmine; feet blackish and olivaceous. 

 Downy young: Brownish gray above; white below. Females of this species have 

 been described as J£. clarki, on the ground of smaller dimensions, especially shorter 

 neck, and minor differences of coloration. The case is a very puzzling one. We 

 frequently meet in winter and in the migrations short-necked individuals that 

 would appear to belong to another race, but the center of distribution of such a race is 

 not known ; perfect gradations are found to exist, and the alleged differences between 

 male and female (whether of occidentalis or "clarki") do not appear to hold good. 

 Perhaps the best we can say is that the Western Grebe is subject to considerable 

 variation both as to dimensions and as to color of bill, lores, etc., and that females 

 average smaller. Length of adult male: 609.6-736.6 (24.00-29.00); wing 203.2 (8.00); 

 bill about 76.2 (3.00); tarsus 76.2 (3.00). Female ("clarki"): "558.8 (22.00); wing 

 177.8 (7.00); bill 58.4 (2.30); tarsus 69.9 (2.75)." 



Recognition Marks. — Brant size; long slender neck; long sharp bill; abrupt 

 demarcation of black and white on sides of head and neck; no rufous on neck; aquatic 

 habits. 



Nesting. — Nests in colonies. Nest: A floating raft or solid pyramid of rushes 

 and coarse water-plants, 2 to 3 feet in diameter, at edge of swamp or lake. Eggs: 

 4 or 5; elliptical ovate or rarely fusiform; chalky bluish green when fresh, but rapidly 



20JC? 



