Loons and grebes are active predators, preferring open water as they dive and chase their prey underwater. Many species have distinctly different breeding and winter coloration; both are shown here for clarity although in some cases only the transition from breeding is still visible by the time the bird winters in Oregon.
Common Loon (breeding) Liz Osborn )
Common Loon (winter) – Identified in winter by thick black bill and a spur of white that reaches towards back of neck. Winters in lakes and streams along the coast. (photo © Patty Teague )
Red-throated Loon (breeding) Stephen Petersen )
Red-throated Loon (winter) – Straight-edged white on neck without spur and a thinner bill than Common Loon. Mostly winters on coast, rarely seen in our area. (photo © Patty Teague )
Pacific Loon (breeding) Samuel Brinker )
Pacific Loon (winter) – Straight-edged white on neck without spur and thinner bill than Common Loon. Less white on face/neck than Red-throated Loon and less white speckling on back. (photo © Phil Kahler )
Yellow-billed Loon (breeding) – Especially thick, yellow bill. An arctic-breeding species in northern Alaska, Canada, and Siberia, considered near-threatened and almost never seen here. (photo © Robert Weeden )
Yellow-billed Loon (winter) – Our largest loon, somewhat more blocky head than other loons. Unique in yellow bill (pale in winter) and lighter neck. (photo © Nik Borrow )
Western Grebe – Our largest grebe, with a long slender neck, slender yellow bill, and red eye. Plumage similar year-round, with black cap that goes below eye. (photo © Jeff Skrentny )
Clark’s Grebe – Black cap stays above eye. Brighter orange bill than Western Grebe. Like the Western Grebe, cannot walk on land as its feet are positioned for swimming only. (photo © Matt Hunter )
Red-necked Grebe (breeding) Paul Reeves )
Red-necked Grebe (winter) Aaron Liston )
Horned Grebe (breeding) Ken Chamberlain )
Horned Grebe (winter) – Smaller with a shorter, darker bill than Red-necked Grebe and a red eye. Clear line between light and dark color on head. Prefers open water like most grebes. (photo © Drew Henderson )
Eared Grebe (breeding) akiralobo )
Eared Grebe (winter) – A dark smuge on the cheek rather than the clean line between dark/white on the head of other grebes. Very rarely seen in our area. (photo © Steve Dimock )
Pied-billed Greb e (breeding)Richard Tehan )
Pied-billed Greb e (winter)Jim Johnson )
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