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Rushing Grebes

When Clark’s Grebes and Western Grebes Walk on Water – The Courtship Behavior of Rushing Grebes Birds

When Clark’s Grebes and Western Grebes Walk on Water – The Courtship Behavior of Rushing Grebes

I am making a concerted effort this spring to photograph the rushing behavior of Clark's Grebes (Aechmophorus clarkii) and Western Grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis). I have seen plenty of grebes "walking on water" (rushing) as part of their elaborate array of courtship behaviors and have wanted to produce really top quality…
March 24, 2025
Western Grebes and Clark’s Grebes Rushing on Lake Hodges BirdsSan Diego

Western Grebes and Clark’s Grebes Rushing on Lake Hodges

Western Grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and Clark's Grebes (Aechmophorus clarkii) exhibit some of the most elaborate and impressive courtship behavior found in the animal world, including various vocalizations, swimming movements, the exchange of nesting material ("weed ceremony") and, most notably, the "rushing ceremony".  When grebes rush, they rise entirely out of…
March 9, 2021