Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) is in the Grebes family (Podicipedidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 73,514 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Pied-billed Grebe: observations by month (U.S.)
About Pied-billed Grebe
The pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) is a species of the grebe family of water birds. Since the Atitlán grebe (Podilymbus gigas) has become extinct, it is the sole extant member of the genus Podilymbus. The pied-billed grebe is primarily found in ponds throughout the Americas. Other names of this grebe include American dabchick, dabchick, Carolina grebe, devil-diver, dive-dapper, dipper, hell-diver, pied-billed dabchick, pied-bill, thick-billed grebe, and water witch.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Pied-billed Grebe by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 23,448 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Texas | 13,282 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Florida | 6,389 | January | Oct–Mar |
| Washington | 2,811 | March | Feb–Jan |
| Oregon | 2,518 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Arizona | 2,505 | January | Oct–May |
| Ohio | 1,628 | April | Mar–May |
| Illinois | 1,136 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Minnesota | 1,079 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Utah | 1,051 | January | Sep–May |
| Nevada | 1,037 | January | Jul–Apr |
| South Carolina | 1,035 | January | Oct–Mar |
| New York | 1,033 | April | Aug–Apr |
| Colorado | 1,014 | October | Sep–Jan |
| Virginia | 992 | March | Oct–Apr |
| Maryland | 975 | March | Oct–Apr |
| North Carolina | 927 | December | Oct–Mar |
| Wisconsin | 828 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Louisiana | 701 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Alabama | 681 | November | Oct–Mar |
| Tennessee | 639 | January | Sep–Apr |
| Michigan | 635 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Georgia | 614 | January | Oct–Mar |
| Mississippi | 577 | December | Oct–Jan |
| Oklahoma | 577 | April | Oct–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 549 | March | Mar–Apr |
| New Mexico | 510 | January | Oct–Jun |
| Arkansas | 396 | November | Oct–Apr |
| Indiana | 352 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 351 | November | Sep–Dec |
| New Jersey | 343 | October | Oct–Jan |
| Missouri | 319 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Idaho | 313 | October | Jul–Dec |
| Kansas | 306 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Vermont | 234 | April | Mar–May |
| Delaware | 222 | March | Sep–Apr |
| Nebraska | 194 | April | Apr–May |
| Iowa | 193 | April | Mar–Apr |
| West Virginia | 182 | November | Sep–Nov |
| South Dakota | 159 | April | Apr–May |
| Montana | 144 | October | Apr–Oct |
| North Dakota | 114 | August | Apr–Sep |
| Kentucky | 106 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Connecticut | 92 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Maine | 56 | April | Apr–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 55 | April | Jan–Apr |
| New Hampshire | 53 | April | Apr–May |
| Alaska | 49 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Wyoming | 44 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Hawaii | 38 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 28 | January | Jan–Jan |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Grebes)
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Pied-billed Grebe?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from August to May.
Where is Pied-billed Grebe most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Florida.