Pied-billed Grebes

photo © Cornell Ornithology Lab

I saw four Pied-billed Grebes on the lake this afternoon doing lots of diving. Grebes are easy to spot because they're smaller than the ducks we typically see; their bodies are short. This is the male, identified during breeding season by the black band on his short, thick bill. They say these guys love crayfish, which may be one reason they're hanging around. They also eat fish, frogs and pond vegetation. And they make their nests on beds of floating vegetation, usually in wetlands.

toes of a baby Pied-billed Grebe

Here's an interesting fact I found online:  Unlike other ducks, Pied-billed Grebes don't have webbed feet. Each toe has lobes that provide extra surface for effective paddling. These special toes, called "lobate," flare out when pushing back against the water and fold back or "feather" on the forward stroke.