Pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)

A pied billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps), in basic (winter) plumage swimming in a shallow lagoon at Brazos Bend State Park in Texas. This small diving waterbird is the most widespread of North American grebes, found on remote marshes, ponds and slow moving streams. They eat fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans, especially crayfish. They can fly, but mainly they dive to escape predators. Their ability to dive very fast has earned them the nicknames of water witch and devil-diver, among others.

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