Photo: Donna A. Dewhurst/USFWS · Potter Marsh, Anchorage, Alaska · U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service · Public Domain
← Kodiak species
Grebes
Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritus
A compact grebe named for its striking golden-orange 'horns' in breeding plumage. Commonly seen in Kodiak's harbors and nearshore waters during winter.
Where to look
St. Paul Harbor, Middle Bay, and protected coves around Kodiak Island.
Habitat
Freshwater ponds for breeding; coastal bays and harbors in winter.
Diet
Small fish, aquatic invertebrates, and crustaceans.
Natural history note
Horned Grebes eat their own feathers, which may help protect their digestive tracts from sharp fish bones.