Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
They possess the unique ability to trap air in their feathers to control their buoyancy, allowing them to sink slowly out of sight like a submarine.
- Scientific name
- Podilymbus podiceps
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Podicipediformes › Podicipedidae › Podilymbus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Freshwater marshes, sluggish rivers, and ponds with dense emergent vegetation.
- Diet
- Aquatic insects, crayfish, small fish, and amphibians.
- Range
- North America, Central America, South America, Caribbean
- Size
- 30-38 cm in length; weight 250-570g.
- Lifespan
- 10-12 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Wetland degradation, water pollution, and accidental ingestion of lead fishing tackle.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. These birds are shy and will dive to escape human presence. Maintain a distance of at least 20 meters to avoid disrupting their foraging or nesting. If an injured bird is found, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator; do not attempt to provide food or water.
The pied-billed grebe ( Podilymbus podiceps ) is a species of the grebe family of water birds. Since the Atitlán grebe ( Podilymbus gigas ) has become extinct, it is the sole extant member of the genus Podilymbus . The pied-billed grebe is primarily found in ponds throughout the Americas. Other names of this grebe include American dabchick, dabchick, Carolina grebe, devil-diver, dive-dapper, dipper, hell-diver, pied-billed dabchick, pied-bill, thick-billed grebe , and water witch .
Photo: no rights reserved, CC0, via iNaturalist
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