This is the first time I’ve seen two pied grebes together. They seem to be solitary ducks. At least in Florida in the winter. Everyone was like “Look at the cute couple.”
All of a sudden they start going at each other. Were they fighting over territory?
The one on the right looked bigger. Someone thought they both might be females.
The fighting continues. They have a huge lake and tons of ponds. Why would they be fighting over this little spot?
They seemed to come to a standoff.
All of a sudden they were best friends again.
Maybe the one on the right wasn’t done fighting.
They started fighting again for a few seconds then stopped. What was that all about?
The fighting grebes sounds like a sports team, you know, like the fighting tigers. But no, at Circle B Bar Reserve it was two little diving ducks fighting over something that none of us understood. Pied grebes don’t nest in Florida in the winter (or so I’m told) so it wouldn’t be foreplay. I’ve seen several grebes in the same pond but they usually keep a distance from each other. I couldn’t tell if one of them won the battle or they considered it a tie. Since neither left I guess it was a tie.
what a great series, the pictures really tell a story!! cute little ones, testing those waters!!
oooohhhhh and yes, frigid up here today!! a wonderful “inside” day!!
Love the illustrated story (with a somewhat unsatisfactory ending, but thus is nature!)….We have pie-bills that nest near us where we stay in Oregon , I’ve seen the babies riding on mom’s back…one of my favorite bird sightings ever. Never thought of it before, but I’ve never seen two mature ones together….
Great post — thanks!
This is a great series! I don’t believe I have ever seen a grebe fight before!
one winter we had 2 grebes here together. usually we’ve kept only one soloist. the fight is definitely interesting!
I don’t think it was a fight over territory. I think it may have been a play fight. Dogs and cats play fight, so why not birds? That would explain pausing to take a breath, then going at it again, but no one emerging the clear winner.
K
Super action shots of the Grebes. It is not unusual for this species to fight over a territory in the breeding season but this instance could well have been a pre-cursor just to test their skills.
How cool to witness that! Loved your storytelling with the pics. Nice water action, too.
Wow, that is very interesting! There are quite a few Grebes that hang out pretty close to one another and the Coots here. These guys look like they are imitating the Coots!
Wow, they are such beauties, wonder what all of the fuss was about~
Are you sure they are fighting? – if you know what I mean?
Cheers and thanks for linking to WBW.
Stewart M – Melbourne
The Pied-billed Grebe is a year-round resident in Florida, although we certainly see more during the winter migration. I understand they breed at least twice a year, typically in the spring and summer. This looks like a fight over territory. Great shots!