Grebes and Loons, Part 1

Once deep winter sets in, the shoreline of Halibut Point tends to provide a greater variety of bird life than does the upland acreage. The ocean edge at this season, from a binocularist's point of view, is also more interesting than in summertime when most of the coastal species have departed for northern or inland breeding grounds. So it is with grebes and loons. 

The grebes you might encounter here are named for remarkable breeding plumage that you are unlikely to see, because they will mostly have left the area by the time of their spring molt. They should be considered fresh-water birds forced here by frozen conditions on continental water bodies. Two of these species adapt themselves to our maritime conditions in winter.

A Horned Grebe beside two female Red-breasted Mergansers

The Horned Grebe is small, buoyant, and duck-like but with a pointed bill and red eyes.

Horned Grebe afloat

It is the species more likely to be seen diving for food close to shore. A glimpse of its outsized legs suggests its advantage in chasing fish below the surface.

Horned Grebe in flight

In flight those long legs trail behind. The bird's plumage is more boldly patterned than it seems while swimming compactly on the water.

A Red-necked Grebe above a Razorbill in flight

The drooping neck and head of a Red-necked Grebe bear a resemblance to a loon in flight, but its wing patches distinguish it from that order of birds.

A Red-necked Grebe devouring prey

After a successful dive this grebe brought to the surface a ling fish.

Red-necked Grebe in breeding plumage

A late-to-depart bird evidences the breeding plumage for which it is named.

Red-necked Grebe on the quarry

Several years ago at the very beginning of spring a Red-necked Grebe spent a week on the quarry, before it molted to breeding plumage.

It found an abundance of small fish to pursue.

Characteristically it subdued its prey with violent thrashing head motions before swallowing.

Then it oriented the fish head first to keep the sharp dorsal fins pointed backwards on the way down its throat.

The lobed toes of a Red-necked Grebe

Like other diving birds in the business of out-swimming fish, grebes have large feet extending from legs placed at the very rear of their bodies, designed to maximize propulsion but of very limited use for walking. Grebes differ from all the rest by having broad lobed toes, which they can work individually and in concert like the hydrofoil blades of a propeller.