Waterbird Wednesday week 18: Little and Pied-billed Grebes
The Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) is a relatively common bird in the UK, with an estimated 5'300 pairs, and 16'000 individuals wintering. However, Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) is a far rarer species, breeding in North America. Only 44 individuals have been recorded in the UK, however they tend to be long stayers.
Little Grebe
The Little Grebe is a rather familiar bird, rather small and cute. They breed across Europe, C and S Africa, the Middle East and S Asia. Overall they are far slimmer than Pied-billed Grebe, with a smaller, thinner bill.
Adult summer
Little Grebes are most striking in the summer, with dark backs contrasting with lighter sides, a reddish neck, a black bill and an obvious yellow gape forming a pale spot at the base of the bill.
Adult winter
In the winter, Little Grebes have pale buffish sides and neck, with a dark head and back. The bill is pale, and the pale gape spot is still present, however less obvious than in summer.
Pied-billed Grebe
Pied-billed Grebes, as mentioned before, breed across North America and some of eastern South America. They are far stockier than Little Grebes, with a very heavy bill in comparison.
Adult summer
The Pied-billed Grebe's summer plumage is mainly dark greyish-brown, with a black chin and a striking bill pattern - white with a black band through it. It completely lacks the reddish colour seen on Little Grebe, as well as the pale gape spot.
Adult winter
The Pied-billed Grebe also becomes paler in the winter, but not to the extent that Little Grebe does. The neck and face gains some buffish tones, however the border between this and the darker top of the head is far less clear cut. The bill loses it's black patterning, but is still clearly thicker than any Little Grebe's.
