Clark's Grebe

Aechmophorus clarkii

OrderPodicipediformes

FamilyPodicipedidae

HabitatLarge lakes and reservoirs; breeds on western lakes

SeasonLocalized in Texas; Balmorhea Lake is a reliable site

LocationBalmorhea Lake, Balmorhea, Texas, Reeves County, Texas

Size22-29 inches

DietFish caught in underwater pursuit dives

ConservationLeast Concern (IUCN)

CameraNikon Z9Lens800mmAperturef/10Shutter1/500ISO800

Clark's Grebe cruising the lake in formal black and white at Balmorhea Lake.

About the Clark's Grebe

Clark's Grebe is the elegant western twin of the Western Grebe, a long-necked, black-and-white diving bird with a thin yellow-orange bill. The two species were considered one until 1985; Clark's shows white around the eye where Western shows black, a detail that matters enormously to the birds and to birders.

Clark's Grebes are famous for their courtship rushing display, when pairs sprint side by side across the water's surface like dancers. In Texas the species is scarce and local, and desert-ringed Balmorhea Lake in Reeves County is one of the most dependable places in the state to find one.

This bird was photographed on Balmorhea Lake at sunrise, cruising the calm water in formal black and white.

Want to see a Clark's Grebe in the wild?
Join one of my guided birding tours! Fine art prints of my photos are also available.

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