Western Grebe (WEGR)
Aechmophorus occidentalis
Range
The breeding range of the Western Grebe spans from California at its southernmost point to mid-Alberta at its northernmost. The western boundary of the Western Grebe’s breeding range is the West Coast of the United States and extends northeastward reaching into the Midwest, ending in Wisconsin. There Western Grebe has a small migration range that spans small parts of Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Additional Maps
Identification
The Western Grebe is a slender grebe with black upper parts (sooty in nonbreeding season), white underparts, and a white lower face. The Western Grebe has a red eye and a yellow bill. Males and females are nearly identical with females being smaller and having a shorter, slightly upturned bill. Juveniles appear similar to adults with a duller, lighter plumage and less distinct transitions from black to white. Juveniles appear more downy, with the amount of this downiness diminishing with age.
The Western Grebe has an advertising call given by courting birds transcribed as a harsh cree creet; this is followed by a ratchet-call. Both sexes give a tuk-tuk-tuk call to rivals during nest site establishment. Other vocalizations are given during copulation, food solicitation from females to males, and lesser displays.
Habitat
In its breeding range, Western Grebe live on freshwater lakes bordered by emergent vegetation. Waters are extensive and are at least several square kilometers. In its nonbreeding range, Western Grebe reside in estuaries, sheltered sea coasts, salt or brackish bays. They are infrequently found on freshwater lakes in their nonbreeding range. When migrating, Western Grebe will stop on large bodies of water and less often, small ones.
Conservation Status
- Listed as Vulnerable by Arizona State Species of Greatest Conservation Need (pg 314)
- Listed as Least Concern by BirdLife International
- Listed as Least Concern by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- Listed as an “On-Alert” species by NABCI’s State of the Birds 2022
- Listed as Secure by Nature Serve
- Listed as Vulnerable by New Mexico State Species of Greatest Conservation Need
- Listed as Vulnerable by Oregon State Species of Greatest Conservation Need
- Listed as Vulnerable by Wyoming State Species of Greatest Conservation Need (i-8)
Threats to Conservation
A major threat to the conservation of the Western Grebe is damage to the waters they reside in and around. Run-off from agricultural and residential practices pollutes the waters the Western Grebe lives in. Pollution can affect the ecosystem by killing off food sources and/or causing food sources to become toxic to consume.
Western Grebe colonies will abandon nesting sites when disturbed by humans, leaving the nesting sites vulnerable to predators and disturbing colony formation in its early stages.
Funding Opportunities
- Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
- America the Beautiful Challenge
- Community Forest Program
- ConocoPhillips Partnership for Public and Private Land Managers
- Conservation Nation Grant Program
- Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program
- Conservation Reserve Program
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
- Fish and Wildlife Grants List for California
- Hewlett Foundation- Western Conservation Grants
- Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative Small Grant Program
- Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program
- Natural Areas Research Grant
- Natural Legacy Program
- Nature Works
- Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) Grant
- NFWF- America Restoration Grant
- North American Wetlands Conservation
- NRCS Wetland Mitigation Banking Program
- Pacific Birds U.S. Partnership
- Partners for Fish and Wildlife
- Point Blue California Restoration Grant
- Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
- Sacramento California Grant and Funding
- Sonoran Joint Venture Awards Program
- The Lawrence Foundation- Environmental Grants
- The Migratory Bird Program
- Tribal Wildlife Grants
- Western Habitat Grant Proposals
- Wildlife Conservation Grants for Species Conservation
- Wildlife Diversity Grant Program
- Wildlife Habitat Grant Program