Garth, this youngster was definitely a diver. It was very quick and dove easily. I’ve lightened one of the pix. When I first saw it, I thought duck of some type, yet the neck seemed a little long for the body type. Also the bill was rather pointy with a slight curve, like a beak. Light tan to reddish brown in body color with the top of head being a darker reddish color, but fuzzy. Dark eye with white eyeliner. Dark band below the eye that went around the bill, then another band on the bill and a yellow tip at bill/beak. Cute little pointy tuft on the tail.
No, not a merganser, the black stripe is not seen on the bill or throat. Just doesn’t look right in body shape, either. I’m thinking a Grebe of some sort. Body shape fits much better, with the longer neck and rounder body. I’ll have to look at some to see what might fit.
Next to warblers, I think waterfowl are the most challenging.
Carole, I’m pretty sure it’s a Pied Billed Grebe. I needed to look at some photos, but the striped bill is only seen during breeding season. Beak shape and color, body shape, eye color all fit. The immature has striped head. It does have white eye liner, too. It was easier after you lightened the photo.
The merganser wasn’t all that good of guess, but the head shape and general beak shape and color fit. I’ve seen lots of baby mergansers paddling, so that’s what came to mind first, but I just knew it didn’t fit.
Garth, you make bird ID so easy for me once you point me in the right direction! I would bet money that this is a Pied-billed Grebe. I found a good photo in one of my bird books and it fits this youngster to a T. Same body shape, fuzz, neck length, roundness, etc. Thanks so much for your help!
Sure is a cute little guy!