Horned Grebe
Learn to identify the Horned Grebe by ear. Master the "kayik-kayik-kayik" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.
What the Horned Grebe sounds like
A quick flare of high squeals comes from birds close to a nest, excited and sharper than the measured kayik series.
How to tell it apart
Where you'll hear it
Breeds across boreal regions of North America and Eurasia; winters along both Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America, the Great Lakes, and temperate coastal waters of Europe and Asia.
Breeds on small, shallow freshwater ponds, marshes, and tundra lakes with plenty of emergent vegetation; winters on large lakes, sheltered coastal bays, and estuaries.
Present on breeding ponds from late April to August; migrates mainly April–May and September–November; occupies wintering waters from October to April.
How to recognize it by sight
Small, compact grebe famous for its striking "horns"—golden tufts of feathers behind the eyes—in breeding plumage. Transforms into a more subdued gray-and-white bird in winter. Spends most of its time on the water, diving frequently for prey and rarely venturing onto land except to nest.