Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) is in the Grebes family (Podicipedidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 5,453 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in November.
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 Red-necked Grebe: observations by month (U.S.)
About Red-necked Grebe
The red-necked grebe (Podiceps grisegena) is a migratory aquatic bird found in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Its wintering habitat is largely restricted to calm waters just beyond the waves around ocean coasts, although some birds may winter on large lakes. Grebes prefer shallow bodies of fresh water such as lakes, marshes or fish-ponds as breeding sites.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Red-necked Grebe by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 1,129 | June | May–Aug |
| Washington | 1,070 | April | Sep–Apr |
| California | 640 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Oregon | 425 | January | Sep–Apr |
| Montana | 226 | July | Apr–Aug |
| Minnesota | 186 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 170 | November | Nov–Mar |
| Ohio | 136 | March | Feb–Mar |
| Maine | 132 | November | Sep–Feb |
| Idaho | 130 | May | Apr–Dec |
| Maryland | 118 | March | Feb–Mar |
| New York | 105 | March | Jan–Apr |
| Michigan | 99 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Pennsylvania | 95 | February | Feb–Apr |
| Vermont | 83 | April | Apr–May |
| North Dakota | 77 | June | May–Jul |
| Virginia | 66 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Colorado | 64 | January | Nov–May |
| Illinois | 62 | November | Oct–Dec |
| New Jersey | 62 | March | Feb–Mar |
| Wisconsin | 55 | April | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 28 | January | Jan–Feb |
| New Hampshire | 22 | April | Mar–May |
| Florida | 20 | December | Nov–Jan |
| Arizona | 19 | December | Oct–Jan |
| North Carolina | 19 | March | Dec–Mar |
| Tennessee | 17 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Utah | 16 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Wyoming | 14 | May | May–Dec |
| Rhode Island | 13 | January | Dec–Mar |
| South Dakota | 13 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 12 | January | Oct–Mar |
| Missouri | 11 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Texas | 11 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Indiana | 10 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Iowa | 10 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arkansas | 9 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Nebraska | 9 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Connecticut | 8 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Kansas | 8 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Louisiana | 8 | February | Feb–Feb |
| New Mexico | 8 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Kentucky | 7 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Alabama | 6 | January | Dec–Jan |
| District of Columbia | 6 | March | Jan–Mar |
| West Virginia | 6 | March | Feb–Mar |
| Georgia | 5 | February | Feb–Mar |
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 Red-necked Grebe?
Nationally, November has the most observations, with the main season from October to September.
Where is Red-necked Grebe most often seen?
The most observations come from Alaska, Washington, California.