The Eared Grebe is the most abundant grebe in the world and undergoes an extraordinary annual transformation — it becomes nearly flightless while staging in massive flocks on saline lakes like Mono Lake and the Great Salt Lake, where it gorges on brine shrimp and doubles its body weight. Its organs actually shrink and expand as it shifts between active and sedentary phases.
Best time to see a Eared Grebe
The best time to see a Eared Grebe is September–February, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 17,942 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Eared Grebe? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Eared Grebe sightings near you
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