Horned Grebe: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Ducks, Geese and Grebes · day 2 of 7

Five facts

1. Horned grebes eat their own feathers. The matted plug in the stomach filters out fish bones until digestion.
2. Horned grebes bond through four ceremonies. In the weed one, the pair dive, grab weeds and rise in sync.
3. They dive using big feet to hunt fish and crustaceans. They also snatch flying insects from the water's surface.
4. The "horns" are orange-yellow crest feathers above and behind the eyes.
5. Baby grebes beg for food with a trilled peeping, like a domestic chick.

The quiz

1. What do horned grebes eat to protect their stomach from fish bones?

• Small stones
• Water weeds
• Sand
• Their own feathers (correct)

A plug of swallowed feathers filters fish bones.

2. How many pair bonding ceremonies do horned grebes have?

• Two
• Four (correct)
• Three
• Six

There are four pair bonding ceremonies.

3. What do horned grebes use to dive?

• Their large feet (correct)
• Their wings
• Their tail
• Their beak

They dive using their large feet.

4. What are the grebe's "horns"?

• Hard bony spikes
• Black beak tips
• Orange-yellow crest feathers (correct)
• Red cheek patches

The horns are orange-yellow crest feathers.

5. What does a baby grebe's begging call sound like?

• A duck quacking
• A domestic chick (correct)
• A frog croaking
• A seagull screaming

Young beg with a trilled peeping like a domestic chick.

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