The gray cheek sets off the white throat, white ear patch. The rump is raised well above the water. Voice On nesting ponds, a froglike poo-eep or krreep. Range Eurasia, Africa, western North America. Generally migrates at night.
Some birds migrate southeast from breeding range to winter near Gulf Coast.
Favored nesting areas are lakes or large ponds with extensive marshy borders. Opportunistic, it may quickly occupy new or temporary habitats. During migration and winter, mainly on large freshwater or alkaline lakes. Also on coastal bays, but seen less often on ocean than Horned Grebe. During autumn stopover on large alkaline lakes, may feed mainly on brine shrimp.