Physical 

Pied-billed grebes are small, compact birds named for the black vertical stripe on their pale-blue bills. They have grey and brown plumage, with white feathers on the underside of their tails. Juveniles have white streaks on their faces. You may sometimes see pied-billed grebes riding low in the water, with only their tail, neck, and head visible.

 

Habitat

During the year, pied-billed grebes prefer ponds, lakes and marshes. In the winter, they move toward estuaries and coastal bays. Their range covers from Canada to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of South America. While northern populations migrate, the pied-billed grebes in the Barnegat Bay are here year round.

 

Feeding 

Pied-billed grebes are opportunistic feeders; they eat whatever they can get, depending on the place and season. This includes insects, crustaceans, small fish, leeches, molluscs, frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, spiders, and some aquatic plants. Like other grebes, they also swallow their own feathers. They feed by diving into the water for food.