Habitat: This Grebe species can be found in ponds and lakes, in the lowlands. Distribution: This species has been reported from Canada to southern South America and the West Indies. Natural History Notes: The Pied-billed Grebe is a bird found only on fresh water lakes, ponds and marshes. Its diet consists of aquatic invertebrates and sometimes fish. It can be found almost completely submerged in water, except for the head and the neck. Its call is heard during breeding season and consists of a loud series of "cuk-cuk, cuk-cuk, cow-cow-cow". Conservation status according to IUCN 2008 Red list: Least Concern (LC). Characteristics: The total length of this species varies between 30.5 cm and 35.5 cm (measured from tip of bill to end of tail). This bird is characterized by a heavy short white bill with a prominent black ring around the bill, close to the tip. The plumage is mosly gray-brown, but paler on the part below. The throat shows a black patch during breeding season and a white under tail-coverts. The juvenile bird will have in addition stripes of dark gray and white on the sides of the head and the neck.