Eared Grebes? ID help please.

[Julie Brown]

I am guessing that the larger bird is an Eared Grebe, but also curious about the eye color (and species) of the smaller grebe.

10-8-11 on the Great Salt Lake, from the causeway to Antelope Island State Park.

[Paul Lagasi]

Hi Julie

Here's a link you may want to have a look at http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/ID-EAGRvHOGR.html

The bird on the left, I think is a adult Eared Grebe and the bird on the right is a juvenile Eared (Sibley's shows a yellowish eye in juveniles, slightly dusky neck) but I've only ever seen a couple of Eared Grebes in non-breeding plumage.

I think the angle you took the image at makes each bill appear thicker but I am by no means an authority.

I loved the causeway to Antelope Island, so many birds, and its a place you could photograph in the early morning and late afternoon, just by shooting one side of the road or the other.....

[Don Nelson]

Bird on the left is Eared Grebe - note the large fluffy cotton rear end -- indicative of the species in winter plumage. Bird on right is hatch-year Eared.

[Julie Brown]

Hi Paul and Don. Thanks for confirming the IDs of the two birds.

Paul, like you, I really enjoyed my visit to Antelope Island, which was just a half day spent there before I headed down to Moab for a landscape workshop. The next time I go to Utah it will be to go back to the island, as well as to explore the other wildlife management areas around the lake.

[Dave Irons]

Don and Paul are absolutely correct on this one. The eye color along with difference in bill proportions are the key to aging these two birds. Also, if you are ever confused over whether you are seeing an Eared or a Horned Grebe, remember this, Horned Grebes always have a pale ivory tip to their bill, whereas the bill on an Eared is dark all the way to the tip.

Dave Irons