A Gluttonous Pied-billed Grebe

Pied-billed Grebes are opportunistic feeders so they’re not very fussy about what they eat, but they do seem particularly fond of crayfish, fish and frogs (including tadpoles).  Before consuming crayfish and frogs (both are often too large to swallow whole) they rip them apart in an incredibly rapid shaking frenzy that tears off limbs and pieces before they’re swallowed (something I’ve documented here with a frog).   They have very strong jaw muscles and before swallowing fish they repeatedly pinch them with their beak, which kills them by damaging their internal organs.      

Occasionally, when choosing prey, their eyes are bigger than their stomachs – as you’re about to see.  (all images are presented in the order that they occurred)

 

 All images presented in this post had the following techs: f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shutter speed ranged from 1/2000 to 1/1250

Last winter, I noticed this grebe just after it surfaced with a fish.   A very large  fish, at least relative to the size of the bird who must now swallow it.  (I’ve never seen one tear a fish into smaller pieces before eating it).

As a side-note, I liked the “extra eye” in the reflection at the bottom of the frame.

 

I thought this image would give the viewer a good sense for the size of the fish – especially its width!

 

 

But the poor bird didn’t have any time at all to get the meal down before other grebes rushed in to try to steal the fish.   The competition at times like this is intense,  with the rightful owners of the prize skittering across the water at high speed and the potential  thieves in hot pursuit.  When the prey is small, these birds swallow their meal underwater – something they can’t do with larger items.  So  there’s always some excitement in a situation like this.

 

 

During a brief lull in the chase the grebe tries to hurriedly swallow the fish but it’s just too big to go down quickly, if at all.

 

 

This particular grebe is an accomplished multitasker – attempting to swallow the prize at the same time it’s furiously swimming away from the other birds giving chase.

 

 

I like the look of frustration this view provides.

 

 

Still trying to avoid competitors…

 

 

and get the meal down the hatch.

 

 

Finally, things settled down a bit.  I wondered at the time if all the frenzied activity, combined with the huge fish stuffed down its gullet, might have made it difficult to breathe and winded the bird a little.

I don’t believe the grebe was ever able to get the meal down.   It dived with the fish but came up without it and I doubt it could swallow this one underwater.

 

 

But just a few minutes later, another grebe (possibly the same one) came up with another fish and the excitement began all over again.

Fun little birds!

Ron