Help! I need to identify this waterfowl!

[skeetar]

This bird was brought in to the Humane Society today. It was found in a parking lot hopping around, obviously out of its element.

It appears to have a janky leg, the right one is always down and it only uses the left one to kick when I pick it up.

Anyone know what it is? It was found in western kentucky. The vet can see it Tuesday but until then, I need to know what to feed it! Help!

edit - I should have mentioned for scale: this bird is currently smaller than a softball. Looks like a fall hatch.

(I know, my bathtub is dirty. :x )

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Looks like it might be in the loon family.

 

[heritagebirds]

it looks like a grebe!!!

 

[heritagebirds]

http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/Hotspots/Pied-BillGrebe(VF).jpg The beak color is not the same in this picture, but the birds shape looks right-on

 

[JJMR794]

I'm No Expert, But It Looks Like An Adolescent Coot To Me

 

[skeetar]

I should have mentioned for scale: this bird is currently smaller than a softball. Looks like a fall hatch.

 

[heritagebirds]

I definitely could be something else, but I like grebes, and thought it looked very grebe-ish

Whatever it is, it is CUTE

 

[skeetar]

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i0060id.html

From those, it does look very grebe.

 

[heritagebirds]

http://www.bafrenz.com/birds/PBGrX02.htm This one says immature Pied-billed Grebe

http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/bio/birds/grebes/pbgr/pbgr_mai.htm

 

[heritagebirds]

So awesome, they are one of my favorite wild birds, not sure why