Eared grebe

Eared grebes are small diving birds that arrive on Manitoba’s prairie sloughs and lakes in spring already in full breeding dress: a black head and neck, golden feathers fanning back from a glowing red eye, and a rusty flank.

They nest in loose colonies on floating platforms of plant material, and they spend nearly their whole lives on the water. Eared grebes dive for insects, small crustaceans, and the occasional small fish, and in the fall they gather in big flocks before heading south for the winter.

I love the golden plumes and glowing red eye of an eared grebe in breeding plumage, which look almost too ornate for such a small bird.

Curious about the eared grebe and its habitat? Learn more on its page at All About Birds.

Eared grebe Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the eared grebe in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

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