Pied-billed Grebes, May Migration to Northern Illinois

A Pied-billed Grebe, Bauman Park, Cherry Valley, IL; 4/27/2010.

Pied-billed Grebes (Above) are another water bird that arrived into northern Illinois in late March. In summers they are widespread throughout the U.S. and much of Canada. In winter they will migrate to the southern half of the U.S. and Mexico.

A Pied-billed Grebe, Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, WI; 4/24/2011.

I love taking photos of Pied-billed Grebes, because they always look like they are looking at me out the corner of their eyes. They are the most common of the three Grebe species (Horned and Eared) that have appeared in our area this spring. The biggest identifying trait is its black ring around its pale bill. They are expert divers and feed on aquatic insects, crayfish and vegetation.