Horned Grebe: A Rare Transient for Utah

Horned Grebes are rarely seen in Utah. Generally when they are seen, they are passing through the state in spring or fall as they migrate to or away from breeding areas in western Canada and Alaska.  A local birder discovered one this past week on Sandy Pond, a pond I frequent on my lunch hours because it is about five minutes from my office. It is a community pond where water is circulated year round so it becomes a magnet for waterfowl when natural ponds and lakes freeze over in winter. We've been in the single digits for our temperatures recently so the pond has become loaded with some of our regular waterfowl. The Horned Grebe was a bonus for local birders. I was able to see the grebe the other night as the sun was setting. I returned for a short lunch visit today and captured the following images. Due to the season, this one is in non-breeding plumage.

Adult Horned Grebe in Non-breeding Plumage on Sandy Pond in Sandy, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Adult Horned Grebe in Non-breeding Plumage on Sandy Pond in Sandy, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Adult Horned Grebe in Non-breeding Plumage on Sandy Pond in Sandy, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

A more common and similarly appearing grebe for the state of Utah is the Eared Grebe. Below are two images of Eared Grebe in non-breeding plumage for comparison. The Eared Grebe does not show the sharp contrast or demarcation between the dark cap and the white cheek seen on Horned Grebes.

Eared Grebe in Non-breeding Plumage in Provo, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper) 

Eared Grebes in Non-breeding Plumage in Lehi, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper) 

I was fortunate this year to see two Horned Grebes this past spring, in April, as they stopped along their migration at a place we call Geneva Settling Ponds on the east side of Utah Lake, near Lindon, Utah. I like these images because they show a bird molting into breeding plumage.

Horned Grebe in Transitional Molt to Breeding Plumage Geneva Settling Ponds Lindon, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Horned Grebe in Transitional Molt to Breeding Plumage Geneva Settling Ponds Lindon, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Horned Grebe in Transitional Molt to Breeding Plumage Geneva Settling Ponds Lindon, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Finally, here is a side by side of the rare (for Utah) Horned Grebe and more common Eared Grebe, both in breeding plumage. You can see the more horn-like feathers on the Horned Grebe compared to the more ear-like feathers on the Eared Grebe.

Eared Grebe in Breeding Plumage
Pleasant Grove, UT
(Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Horned Grebe in Transitional Molt to Breeding Plumage
Geneva Settling Ponds Lindon, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)