The Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) is the largest of the North American grebes. Folk names include "dabchick", "swan grebe" and "swan-necked grebe". The Western Grebe has a yellow bill and red eyes. When they fly, you can see a white wing stripe on their wing. The mating display of the Western Grebe is among the most complicated of all. During the 'weed dance,' the male and female both raise their chest gently out of the water and then rub each other with water plants in their long bills. To distinguish from the Clark's grebe: Both species have a white face with a prominent black cap, but on Clark's grebes the eye is surrounded by white while on western grebes the eye is surrounded by black or dark grey.
