The largest of Oregon's grebes, these have a long white neck, black cap, bright red iris, long strait bill, dark back, bright white breast, and they appear tailless. While excellent divers, they are unable to walk on land because their body weight is forward of their legs.

Differences in appearance between western and Clark's grebes are subtle. In the western grebe, the black cap typically extends down to the eye whereas white facial plumage extends slightly above the eye on the Clark's grebe, but this is not always diagnostic in winter.

The western grebe is a common breeder in eastern Oregon, especially at large lakes and marshes having open water in Klamath, Harney, Goose Lake, and Warner basins. West of the Cascades, it is a regular breeder at Fern Ridge Reservoir.

Hear the call of the Western grebe

Photo by Michael Lazott