Western grebe

Western grebe
Western grebe swimming in blue water facing left. Its reflection is slightly distorted by ripples in the water.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Podicipediformes
Family: Podicipedidae
Genus: Aechmophorus
Species:
A. occidentalis
Binomial name
Aechmophorus occidentalis
(Lawrence, 1858)
Approximate distribution map
  Breeding
  Migration
  Year-round
  Nonbreeding
Synonyms
  • Aechmophorus lucasi
    Miller, 1911
  • Aechmophorus occidentalis lucasi
    Miller, 1911
  • Aechmophorus occidentalis occidentalis
    (Lawrence, 1858)

The western grebe[2] (Aechmophorus occidentalis)[3] is a species in the grebe family of water birds. Folk names include "dabchick", "swan grebe" and "swan-necked grebe".

Western grebe fossils from the Late Pleistocene of southwest North America were described as a distinct species,[4] but later ranked as a paleosubspecies Aechmophorus occidentalis lucasi.[5] More recent study found them to fall within the variation now known to exist in today's birds.[6][7]

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2019). "Aechmophorus occidentalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T22696631A139355294. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22696631A139355294.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Western Grebe". Birds of North America. Cornell Lab of Ornothology. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  3. ^ Etymology: Aechmophorus, "spear-bearer", from Ancient Greek aichme (a spear) + phoros (one who bears something around), in reference to its bill; occidentalis: Latin for "western".
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Miller was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Howard was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Jehl was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Storer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).