11 replies to this topic

[Owlynx]

If anyone knows?

I looked at Coot and Grebe information but I was not convinced.




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[Liam]

Was this taken in a museum? If so, where? Many museums exhibit species endemic to their area. It does look like a Grebe, but the best match is Clark's, and even that isn't a perfect fit.

[Kryptos18]

What about a non-breeding Red-necked?

[Owlynx]

I have no information only that I took the picture. The person that has it does not know where it came from?

[Liam]

What about a non-breeding Red-necked?

Could be. Taxadermized birds often fade after a while and don't really resemble the bird they were.

[Owlynx]

It has flat lobed lizard looking feet, not too long of leg unless its sitting on part of the leg but it has no tail end , just like it's is the birds favorite comfortable sitting. I think it has marsh or aquatic kind of feet. The body resembles a stone. I can't figure this bird had no form of protection from any predator. Its about 10-12 inches high sitting as it is. maybe a juvenile- something?

[TheBillyPilgrim]

Pretty positive it's a Grebe of some kind, but if its old (or taxidermied poorly) it could be quite difficult to pin it down.

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

It has flat lobed lizard looking feet, not too long of leg unless its sitting on part of the leg but it has no tail end , just like it's is the birds favorite comfortable sitting. I think it has marsh or aquatic kind of feet. The body resembles a stone. I can't figure this bird had no form of protection from any predator. Its about 10-12 inches high sitting as it is. maybe a juvenile- something?

Grebes have lobed feet for swimming and diving underwater, and most (like this one) are fully flighted, though there are some flightless species. The wings on many waterbirds tuck into the surrounding feathers, which can often make them appear to have none when the wings are closed. I'm sure that this is a Grebe specimen, though - I'd guess Clark's, based on the amount of black/grey that should be on the neck of a non-breeding Red-throated, but I agree that it is hard to tell for sure from this specimen. As Liam said, study mounts often can get bleached out by being exposed to light for too long, or greyed down when they get dusty.

[BarnSwallow]

It has flat lobed lizard looking feet, not too long of leg unless its sitting on part of the leg but it has no tail end , just like it's is the birds favorite comfortable sitting. I think it has marsh or aquatic kind of feet. The body resembles a stone. I can't figure this bird had no form of protection from any predator. Its about 10-12 inches high sitting as it is. maybe a juvenile- something?

A grebe's best form of defense is to go underwater. They spend almost no time on land- they are always on the water. They can duck under in the blink of an eye, and swim a good distance, popping up pretty far away.

[JimBob]

They can duck under in the blink of an eye, and swim a good distance, popping up pretty far away.

That's what my lifer Pied-billed Grebes did. . . except that they popped up so far away I didn't see them again.

[psweet]

Definitely a Grebe, but if this is a N.Am. species it was badly prepared -- that head and bill shape just don't look right for anything we have.

[JimBob]

that head and bill shape just don't look right for anything we have.

I can see it as some of our species. . .