Day 61: Horned Grebe

Last weekend on our trip to the eastern shore, we stopped on the coast to look for an Eared Grebe (normally found in the eastern U.S.) that had been reported. While we didn't end up seeing the Eared Grebe, we did get some great looks at Horned Grebes. We counted nearly 30 Horned Grebes in the water, and a few floated right up to the dock where we were standing (to my great excitement).

Horned Grebes breed in Canada and migrate south during the winter to both coasts of the U.S. Breeding adults have beautiful plumage, with brownish-yellow earlike tufts on the sides of their faces. In Maryland, we see them in winter plumage, which is mainly gray-black with white on the lower half of the face and neck and a black cap. They also have bright red eyes that are a little creepy looking.

The Horned Grebe is an excellent diver and hunts for fish underwater.