I’ve posted adult Pied-billed Grebes (Podilymbus podiceps) before but hadn’t posted any images of their young on my blog yet so I am posting a few images of one of them today. These images were created at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, just to the north of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Juvenile Pied-billed Grebe in morning lightJuvenile Pied-billed Grebe in morning light – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

This is a hatch year Pied-billed Grebe and it still shows some of the camouflage that the immature birds have to help them hide from predators. This bird is in the “Stripe-head stage” but it is not nearly as striped as younger Pied-billed Grebes are.

Juvenile Pied-billed Grebe stretchingJuvenile Pied-billed Grebe stretching – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

As I observed and photographed this Pied-billed Grebe juvenile it preened some, did a few stretches and fluffed up it feathers. The image above shows the lobed foot of the bird.

Juvenile Pied-billed GrebeJuvenile Pied-billed Grebe – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Personally, I think that Pied-billed Grebes (of any age) are fun to photograph because they are so feisty with each other, they often chase each other around when one of them catches a fish in an effort to steal it away.

Pied-billed Grebe juvenile
Pied-billed Grebe juvenile – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Pied-billed Grebes can live to be at least 3 years old, if not longer. They are rarely seen in flight because they migrate at night. They are capable of long distance flights, some Pied-billed Grebes have flown to Europe, the Azores and the Canary Islands. ¹

Fluffed up juvenile Pied-biled GrebeFluffed up juvenile Pied-billed Grebe – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

It won’t be long before the adult Pied-billed Grebes in this area begin the nesting season and more of these young grebes will be seen floating on the water near the adults, begging for food or chasing after each other.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Pied-billed Grebe photos plus facts and information about this species.

¹ Birds of North America