Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

Introduction

Resembling a large Little Grebe, but with a distinctive black ring around the bill, this is a rare visitor from North America. Most records come from the south-west of Britain but, having arrived, many individuals stay for some time.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

469.5g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

1.2k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

% expansion

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Somerset, 1963

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.03%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Winter Distribution for Pied-billed Grebe

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding Distribution for Pied-billed Grebe

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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Pied-billed Grebe is a rare vagrant, recorded sporadically throughout the year.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Pied-billed Grebe movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Pied-billed Grebe, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Pied-billed Grebe

Classification and Codes

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Order: Podicipediformes
Family: Podicipedidae
Scientific name: Podilymbus podiceps
Authority: Linnaeus, 1758

BTO 2-letter code: PJ
BTO 5-letter code: PIBGR
Euring code number: 60

Alternate species names

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Catalan: cabusset becgròs
Czech: potápka americká
Danish: Tyknæbbet Lappedykker
Dutch: Dikbekfuut
Estonian: vöötnokk-pütt
Finnish: paksunokkauikku
French: Grèbe à bec bigarré

German: Bindentaucher
Hungarian: gyuruscsoru vöcsök
Icelandic: Stúfgoði
Irish: Foitheach Gob-Alabhreac
Italian: Podilimbo
Latvian: raibknabja dukuris
Lithuanian: mažasis margasnapis kragas
Norwegian: Ringnebbdykker

Polish: perkozek grubodzioby
Portuguese: mergulhão-caçador
Slovak: potápka škvrnitozobá
Slovenian: progastokljuni ponirek
Spanish: Zampullín picogrueso
Swedish: tjocknäbbad dopping
Welsh: Gwyach Ylfinfraith

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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