Clark's Grebe

Clark's Grebe, breeding plumage, Santa Barbara, CA, November

About the photographs

About the map

Play sound from this species

Clark's Grebe, nonbreeding plumage

Menu

1. Description
2. Sound
3. Other Names
4. Full detailed species account

A white-faced version of the Western Grebe, the Clark's Grebe formerly was thought to be the same species. Differences in face and bill color keep the two grebes from interbreeding.

Description

• Medium-sized waterbird.
• Black back and cap.
• White face.
• White neck and underside.
• Long neck.
• Long, thin bill.

• Size: 55-75 cm (22-30 in)
• Wingspan: 81-82 cm (32-32 in)
• Weight: 718-1685 g (25.35-59.48 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike.

Sound

Shrill whistle and rolling croak.

Other Names

Le Grèbe de Clark, Grèbe élégant, Grèbe à face blanche (French)
Achichilique, Acitli (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

Storer, R. W. and G. L. Nuechterlein. 1992. Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii). In The Birds of North America, No. 26 (A. Poole, P. Stettenheim, and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, DC: The American Ornithologists' Union.