Western Grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis. This species breeds throughout the west of North America and wintering along the western coast. A subspecies lives in central Mexico year round. There are four recognized subspecies, based on light vs dark populations and U.S. vs Mexico populations. As a grebe, they are a diving bird with legs positioned far back on their body, making them not very agile on land. Their diet consists of fish, aquatic invertebrates, and salamanders. Part of their courtship dance involves a pair running side-by-side on the water surface.