pied-billed grebe

The pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) is a medium-sized North American bird. It is characterized by its dark grayish-brown upperparts, whitish underparts, and a distinctive whitish bill encircled by a black band. This species is also known by the names dabchick and hell-diver, the latter due to its remarkable ability to submerge quickly.12

Grebes, as a family, are known for their foot-propelled diving and elaborate courtship displays. Both parents share nesting, incubation, and chick-rearing duties. They build floating nests from aquatic vegetation, and their young often ride on their parents' backs shortly after hatching. The pied-billed grebe, in particular, relies more on vocalizations than visual displays during courtship. Their diet consists mainly of animal matter, with the pied-billed grebe consuming many heavy-bodied crustaceans.2