Re: [cayugabirds-l] Question on the Western Grebe ID

[Anne Marie Johnson]

Chris Wood's eBird post from his first sighting contains notes that describe the field marks distinguishing the grebe from a Clark's Grebe: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9554251 Anne Marie Johnson On 2/4/2012 9:08 PM, david nicosia wrote: I got a comment on my flickr account saying that the western grebe photos I posted look more like a clark's grebe. This forced me to do a little research on this as I have never been out west to have to learn to distinguish between these two similar species.  The white lore would suggest a clark's grebe in non-breeding plumage but I have read in several field guides and on-line that western grebes in non-breeding can show this too. The bill on the bird I saw today was definitively olive-yellow and I had good lighting. Is this the main field mark that is making this a Western Grebe to everyone?  Has anyone considered this could be a clark's grebe? Just curious to what other's thought process was on this.  Thanks.  Dave Nicosia  -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! --