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The bird shown here is called an Eared Grebe in North America, although the IOC (International Ornithological Committee) has designated the name to the Black-necked Grebe, in line with its scientific name, Podiceps nigricollis, nigrcollis meaning "black neck). These grebes have a wide distribution throughout the temperate regions of the the Northern Hemisphere and also in southern Africa. They breed in the northern part of their ranged and overwinter, mostly in coastal regions, in the southern part. The San Francisco Bay Area, where this image was captured, is located at the border of the their summer and winter ranges, so they are year round residents here. After hatching, juveniles take to the water almost immediately, riding on the backs of their parents initially and then swimming near their parents and taking refuge on their backs when tired or threatened. The juvenile in this image is just about at the limit of size that a parent will tolerate on its back. In the image, one parent approaches its offspring on the back of its mate with a small fish in its beak. The juvenile has opened its beak widely and is reaching for the fish. The adults here are, of course, in breeding plumage. Their non-breeding plumage is black and gray.
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