Clark’s Grebe, Aechmophorus clarkii

Clark’s Grebe, Aechmophorus clarkii. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California, taken in the greater Salton Sea area of Southern California, January 2013.

Clark’s Grebe, Aechmophorus clarkii, is a member of the Podicipedidae Family of Grebes. They are large in stature. In Mexico is found in northern portions of Baja California and throughout all mountainous areas of the mainland at elevations up to 2,500 m (8,200 feet). From a conservation perspective Clark’s Grebe is currently considered to be of Least Concern with widely distributed populations; however, populations are currently decreasing with current population estimates to be less than 14,000 birds in the wild. They are found on large freshwater lakes and marshes that have reeds and rushes. After breeding season they lose their flight feathers and become flightless until new flight feathers have grown in, at which point they migrate to saltwater and brackish habitats along estuaries, ocean shores, and rivers. They primarily consume fish, and many aquatic insects and crustaceans acquired from the upper levels of the water column.