Two western grebes exhibit the rushing behavior as they scamper across the water in a sunchronized dance in california in the spring.

Western and Clark's Grebes Rushing

Southern California, USA

Druing the rushing stage of grebe courting, the birds rise up in the water onto their feet and scamper across the surface of the water together, running side by side. They stand straight up with their necks held high, their wings held back, and their feet churning the water like propellers. They rush for several seconds until the display concludes with a sudden dive. Rushing is not a race, but more like a synchronized dance.

Western Grebes and Clark’s Grebes appear similar at first glance, and until 1985 they were considered to be color phases of the same species – the Western Grebe. The phenotypic differences are that the western grebe has a black hood that extends over the eye, while on the Clark’s it does not. The bills differ in color: bright yellow on the Clark’s and yellow green on the western. Also, western grebes tend to have less white on the flanks and wings than the Clark’s grebe.

For more on the Grebe courting process visit mikolnaturephotos.com/gallery/grebe-mating-season--early-action/

Photo © copyright by Dr. Edward Mikol.

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