Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)

County List:

Rule:

Forested or Nonforested Landscapes

      (Lake or Pond) 
   adjacent to:
      Any Emergent Wetlands

Habitat List:

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Literature:

It frequents small ponds and little streams with grassy banks, but where much persecuted by gunners seeks the larger lakes or the sea for greater safety.

Habitat: Lakes, ponds; coastal waters. Summers on lakes having both open water and marsh vegetation, surrounded by northern forest, prairie, sometimes out onto southern edges of tundra. Winters mainly on ocean, including protected bays and exposed shores. Also some in winter on large lakes and reservoirs, more commonly so in recent years.

Diet: Mostly insects, crustaceans, fish. Diet varies with habitat and season. In summer may eat mainly insects and crustaceans, also some fish, tadpoles, leeches, salamanders, small amounts of plant material. May eat mostly fish in winter, also crustaceans, mollusks, insects.

Nest: Site is in shallow water, usually among marsh growth. Nest a floating heap of wet plant material (with depression in middle for eggs), usually anchored to standing vegetation.