Western x Clark's Grebe - 2
Western Grebe x Clark's Grebe at Windsor Lake, Weld Co, Colorado on 18 June 2011. This bird is more obvious than the hybrid posted from 11 June 2011 at same location, but is still more Western than Clark's like. For Clark's, note the orange-red at the base of the mandible and bright white loral spot which extends partly over eye. For Western, note that the white does not pass over eye, so they eye is not surrounded by white. Also, there is a dark line along bottom of bill, a mark which Clark's should not show. The bill color as a whole is intermediate. Finally, the line connecting the eye to the bill is dark, like a Western (usually not obvious as it is surrounded by dark feathering). In breeding plumage Clark's, this line is red.
Western x Clark's Grebe - 2
Western Grebe x Clark's Grebe at Windsor Lake, Weld Co, Colorado on 18 June 2011. This bird is more obvious than the hybrid posted from 11 June 2011 at same location, but is still more Western than Clark's like. For Clark's, note the orange-red at the base of the mandible and bright white loral spot which extends partly over eye. For Western, note that the white does not pass over eye, so they eye is not surrounded by white. Also, there is a dark line along bottom of bill, a mark which Clark's should not show. The bill color as a whole is intermediate. Finally, the line connecting the eye to the bill is dark, like a Western (usually not obvious as it is surrounded by dark feathering). In breeding plumage Clark's, this line is red.