Pied-billed grebe
Pied-billed grebe | |
---|---|
P. p. podiceps, Summer plumage | |
P. p. antarcticus, Colombia | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Podicipediformes |
Family: | Podicipedidae |
Genus: | Podilymbus |
Species: | P. podiceps
|
Binomial name | |
Podilymbus podiceps | |
Approximate distribution map
Breeding
Year-round
Nonbreeding
| |
Synonyms | |
The pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) is a species of the grebe family of water birds primarily found in ponds throughout the Americas.[2]
Taxonomy and name
The pied-billed grebe was described by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae in 1758 as Colymbus podiceps.[3] The binomial name is derived from Latin Podilymbus, a contraction of podicipes ("feet at the buttocks", from podici-, "rump-" + pes, "foot")—the origin of the name of the grebe order—and Ancient Greek kolymbos, "diver", and podiceps, "rump-headed", from podici- + Neo-Latin ceps.[4]
Other names of this grebe include American dabchick, rail, dabchick, Carolina grebe, devil-diver, dive-dapper, dipper, hell-diver, pied-billed dabchick, pied-bill, thick-billed grebe, and water witch.[5][6]
Since the
Subspecies[9]
- P. p. podiceps, (Linnaeus, 1758), nominate subspecies: North America, from Canada to Panama.
- P. p. antarcticus, (Lesson, 1842), South America, from Colombia to central Chile & Argentina.
- P. p. antillarum, (Bangs, 1913), Greater & Lesser Antilles.
Description
Pied-billed grebes are small, stocky, and short-necked. They are 31–38 cm (12–15 in) in length, with a wingspan of 45–62 cm (18–24 in) and weigh 253–568 g (8.9–20.0 oz).
These grebes may be confused with the
Vocalization
Its call is unique, loud and sounds like a "whooping kuk-kuk-cow-cow-cow-cowp-cowp."[17] Its call is similar to the yellow-billed cuckoo.[12]
Distribution and habitat
They are most commonly found throughout North and
Pied-billed grebes are found in
Pied-billed grebes live approximately 10–12 years.[13]
Behaviour
Pied-billed grebes rarely fly. They make a slow dive frequently, especially when in danger, diving to about 20 ft (6.1 m) or less.[2][13] They dive for about 30 seconds and may move to a more secluded area of the water, allowing only the head to be visible to watch the danger dissipate.[13] This frequency in diving has earned them the description of being reclusive or shy in nature.[17] It has also earned them nicknames like "hell-diver."[5] Pied-billed grebes can trap air in their feathers, which controls their buoyancy.[22] They rarely spend time in flocks.[18] Their courtship include calling and sometimes duets.[18] Males will show territorial behaviour if another male is at the edge of his territory. They face each other and then turn their heads and bills up. Then they turn away and start calling. Then they turn back around to look at one another.[13]
Breeding
The pied-billed grebe breeds in south-central Canada, throughout the United States, Central America, the Caribbean, and temperate South America.[10] These grebes may lay up to two sets of eggs a year.[13] Their nests sit on top of the water, their eggs sitting in vegetation that resides in the water.[17] Grebes lay between three and ten bluish white smooth elliptical eggs with the female starting the incubation process.[2][13] They are incubated for around 23 days by both parents, with the female taking over incubation duties towards the end of that time period.[13][18] They will cover the nest with nesting material if they have to leave it for an extended period of time.[18]
Young grebes may leave the nest within one day of hatching. They are downy at birth. Yellow skin is seen between the lore and top of the head.[13] They do not swim well and stay out of the water. They sleep on their parents' backs. Within four weeks they start swimming.[2] When alerted they will climb on the back of a parent grebe and eventually mature to dive under the water like their parents.[2][17] Both parents share the role of raising the young – both feeding and carrying them on their backs.[18] Sometimes the parents will dive underwater to get food with the chicks on their backs.[13]
Diet
Pied-billed grebes feed mainly on aquatic
Threats
They are extremely sensitive to disturbances, especially by humans. While breeding, if scared, adults may abandon their nests without protecting the eggs. The waves from
In culture
Pied-billed grebe feathers are thick and soft. Their feathers were formerly used as decorations on hats and earmuffs and they were hunted in the eastern United States, in the 19th century.[12][13]
Status
The status of pied-billed grebes in the
References
- . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Pied-billed Grebe". Bird Guide. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ Linnaeus, Carolus (1758). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata (in Latin). Stockholm: Laurentius Salvius. p. 136.
- ISBN 2-7011-3783-7
- ^ a b "Pied-billed Grebe – Podilymbus podiceps". NatureWorks. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Pied-billed grebe". Birds. Illinois Natural History Survey. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ Miller, Eliot (2018). "Out on a Limb: Birding in the Phylogenetic Tree". Living Bird (Autumn): 25.
- ISBN 978-0643065116.
- ^ "Grebes". International Ornithological Congress. Retrieved 2015-01-06.
- ^ a b Muller, M. J., and R. W. Storer. Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps). In The Birds of North America, No. 410 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). Philadelphia, PA: The Birds of North America, Inc., 1999.
- ^ a b c d "Pied-billed grebe Podilymbus podiceps". USGS. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps" (PDF). State of New Jersey. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Pied-billed Grebe". Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. State of Connecticut. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ "Loons and Grebes Are Land Locked".
- ^ "Pied-billed Grebe - This Bird is Not a Duck!". 22 July 2019.
- ^ "Exploring the relationship between flamingos and grebes: The wonderful birds – 10,000 Birds".
- ^ ISBN 978-1-55105-080-5.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Pied-billed Grebe". Grebes. Seattle Audubon Society. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ "Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps". Grebes. British Trust for Ornithology. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-12-517367-4.
- ISBN 978-0-300-11532-1. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- ^ "Pied-billed Grebes Sink Like Submarines". 19 March 2018.
- ^ Ehrlich, Paul; David Dobkin, and Darryl Wheye (1988). The Birder's Handbook. New York: Simon and Schuster.
External links
(Pied-billed Grebe).
- "Pied-billed Grebe media". Internet Bird Collection.
- Pied-billed Grebe photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
- Pied-billed Grebe Species Account – Cornell Lab of Ornithology