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Guide to selected species of:
Marin County Area
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© Harold Lindstrom
 Common Loon
Gavia immer
28-36" (71-91 cm). Heavy-bodied, thick, pointed, usually black or dark gray bill held horizontally. Breeding plumage, head, neck black with white bands on neck; back black with white spots. In winter, crown, hindneck, upperparts dark grayish; throat, underparts white.
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© Kevin T. Karlson
Pacific Loon
Gavia pacifica
24" (61 cm). Small loon, straight slender bill. In breeding plumage, head pale gray; neck, back black with white stripes; throat black with purple reflections. In winter plumage, blackish above, white below; often shows thin "chin strap."
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© Chuck Gordon
Red-throated Loon
Gavia stellata
24-27" (61-69 cm). A small loon seldom seen far from salt water. In breeding plumage, has gray head and neck, rusty throat, black back spotted with white. In winter, similar to Common Loon but smaller, paler, with bill thinner, seemingly upturned.
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© Charles W. Melton
Clark's Grebe
Aechmophorus clarkii
22-29" (56-74 cm). Very similar to Western Grebe, but black of cap does not reach eyes, so face is largely white; bill bright yellow or orange-yellow.
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© Chuck Gordon
Western Grebe
Aechmophorus occidentalis
22-29" (56-74 cm). A large slender grebe with a long neck. Blackish above with black of cap extending below eyes; white below and on front of neck. Bill long, slender, greenish yellow. Long white wing stripe shows in flight.
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© Chuck Gordon
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritus
12-15" (30-38 cm). Small, slender-necked, with short, sharply pointed bill. In breeding plumage, body dark, with rufous neck and flanks; head blackish, with conspicuous buff ear tufts. In winter, upperparts dark; chin and foreneck white.
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© Tom J. Ulrich
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegena
18-20" (46-51 cm). In breeding plumage, has rufous neck, black cap, whitish cheeks, and long, pointed yellowish bill. In winter, mainly gray, with paler cheeks, pale (not necessarily yellow) bill. In flight, white wing patches show.
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© Chuck Gordon
Eared Grebe
Podiceps nigricollis
12-14" (30-36 cm). In breeding plumage, black head, back; golden ear tufts; black crest. In winter plumage, dark gray above, white below; neck dusky. Bill appears slightly upturned, sides of face smudged with gray, whitish patch behind ear.
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© Arthur Morris
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
12-15" (30-38 cm). Pigeon-sized. A stocky, uniformly brownish water bird, with stout whitish bill that has black ring around it during breeding season.
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