Horned Grebe

Habitat for Horned Grebe includes small ponds, marshes and wetlands, either natural or man-made. Horned grebes arrive in the Northwest Territories in May. They build floating nests in shallow water, and use willow, cattails or other plants for protection from predators and shelter from strong waves. They lay five to seven eggs that hatch in mid-June and July. Once hatched, chicks are almost immediately able to swim and dive underwater. However, during the first few weeks they often ride on the backs of their parents and can even go underwater with them during dives. Both parents participate in raising the chicks. Often the pair will split the brood and each parent will care for half the chicks.

Adults leave the Northwest Territories by mid-August and young leave by early September. They winter along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America.

Horned Grebes eat aquatic insects, small fish and crustaceans. They are known for eating their own feathers to aid in digestion and even feed feathers to young chicks.

Potential threats in the Northwest Territories include predation on chicks by Northern Pike and gulls, as well as increases in nest predators such as crows, ravens, magpies, gulls, mink, and foxes. Climate change may cause loss of wetlands due to drought or changes in water quality.