In the myth of the origin of the Flat Pipe and the Earth, the first creature to volunteer to dive below the waters and look for the earth is described in Dorsey (p. 193) as “a little fowl (a bird with long, slender bill, rather short body, long, thin legs, with feathers white from neck to stomach.)”. This would seem to be a description of either the Horned or Eared Grebe, both of which are diving birds. He goes on to say that “Turnstone” will then go ahead and dive (p. 194). However, the description does not match the Ruddy Turnstone, and that bird does not dive. The little fowl is unsuccessful in his attempt.
In the Sun Dance, the American Coot seems to have taken the place of grebes among the Arapaho. It is the bird whose stuffed skin is used. Coots are roughly similar to grebes in size and appearance, as well as their diving habit, so the change is not necessarily surprising. Grebes are common in Canada, but much less so on the plains.