It mostly eats fish, but also eats insects, mollusks, and crustaceans. The Western grebe is an aggressive hunter. Reproduction Aechmophorus occidentalis breeds in the spring. It has a very elaborate courtship behavior. The couple will dance, posture, and run across the water.
Many grebes ussually mate at the same time.
The female lays three to five bluish white colored eggs. The nest floats on the water in the reeds. Both sexes take care of the young. They become very territorial during nesting. Behavior Aechemophorus occidentalis is a solitary bird except when it migrates.