GREBES 
43 
Nesting. Breeding habits similar to other grebes, but 
often in communities so dense that a canoe can hardly pass 
between nests. It seems to require larger bodies of marsh 
and water in which to nest than the Horned Grebe, and 
often associates with nesting communities of Western Grebes. 
Distribution. Temperate parts of the Northern hemis- 
phere. In Canada, on the prairies and in southern British 
Columbia, breeding almost wherever found. Strangely 
enough it has not been noticed east of Manitoba even as a 
straggler. 
SUBSPECIES. The Eared Grebe inhabits the Old as 
well as the New World. The American Eared Grebe (le 
Grebe a cou noir d’Amerique) is subspecifically separated 
from the European form under the name Colymbus nigri- 
collis calif ornicus. 
Figure SO 
Eared Grebe (summer); 
scale, 
1. Western Grebe, swan grebe, le gr^be de l’ouest. Aechmophorus occidentals . 
L, 27-25. This and Holboell’s Grebe are the largest of our native grebes; the Western 
measures the longer because of its great length of slender neck. This grebe is in all plum- 
ages a pure black and white bird (Figure 81) without variation of colour. It has slightly 
developed crests over each ear. 
Distinctions. Size, long, slender neck, and pure black and white coloration distinguish 
this from all other of our grebes. The bill is exceptionally long and pointed, and occurs 
in tw'o types without apparent connexion with sex, age, or geographical distribution (Figure 
82). One large and straight (a), and the other small and recurved (b). 
Figure 81 
Western Grebe, swimming; 
scale, about 
Figure 82 
Types of bill of Western 
Grebe; scale, §. 
Field Marks. Size, sharply contrasted black and white coloration, and long, graceful 
neck that suggests its popular name of Swan Grebe. The black cap, descending in a 
sharp line down the back of the neck, and slight ear tufts, make this bird very distinctive 
in life. The white patch in the open wing will distinguish it from any of the smaller loons 
in flight. The presence of only one wing patch will distinguish it from the llolboell’s 
Grebe which has two white areas on each wing. 
Nesting. On floating or stationary masses of dead reeds or tules in wet marshes 
about freshwater lakes, in some cases in communities so dense that one can almost step 
from nest to nest. 
Distribution. Westward from the beginning of the prairies in Manitoba to the Pacific 
coast, north not far beyond the southern edge of timber. Though rather common on the 
lakes and seacoast of southern British Columbia all summer it has to date only once been 
found nesting in that province. 
One of the most graceful, beautiful, and characteristic birds of the 
prairie sloughs. While the females are performing the duties of incubation 
in the marshes, the males, non-breeding birds, or those on relief, are to be 
seen floating about the open water, curling their sinuous necks with graceful 
ease and occasionally uttering a fine, high “ Krik-a-all ” that can be heard 
a considerable distance and is quite different from the raucous cries of 
some of their near relatives. 
