Alarmed grebes dive so swiftly underwater that they have been called hell-diver and water witch. The birds may swim underwater when frightened until they reach plants in a shallow area, where they will remain submerged, except for their eyes and bill, until the perceived danger has passed. Male pied-billed grebes often perform a territorial display with other males at the border of their territories. The males, with their heads held high and their bills up, turn away from each other and call. They then swing back to face each other.
Grebes have soft, thick, lustrous feathers.
Their breast feathers were once used to decorate women's hats. State - Connecticut General Statutes Sec. Projects aimed at improving or restoring wetland areas for waterfowl will benefit the pied-billed grebe. Since the nesting activities of the pied-billed grebe are often difficult to survey and monitor, any confirmed nests should be reported to the Wildlife Division to help increase our knowledge of the activities of these birds in Connecticut. The production of this Endangered and Threatened Species Fact Sheet Series is made possible by donations to the Endangered Species-Wildlife Income Tax Checkoff Fund.