HYPEREUMELANISTIC HORNED GREBE OBSERVED IN EASTERN INTERIOR ALASKA

Abstract

On 30 May, 31 May, and 1 June 2017 we observed a melanistic Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) at Canvasback Lake (66° 23.13’ N, 146° 23.18’ W) on the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, situated in eastern interior Alaska, 185 km north of Fairbanks. We photographed it, accompanied by a smaller Horned Grebe in normal breeding plumage, on 30 and 31 May (see this issue’s outside back cover). At midday on 30 May the melanistic grebe responded to our playing a recorded call of a territorial male by assertively approaching and greeting the normally plumaged grebe, its likely mate. The melanistic bird remained with that grebe throughout our playing of the call.