Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) is in the Grebes family (Podicipedidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 19,676 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
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 Western Grebe: observations by month (U.S.)
About Western Grebe
The western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) is a species in the grebe family of water birds. Folk names include "dabchick", "swan grebe" and "swan-necked grebe".From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Western Grebe by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 12,741 | March | Feb–Jan |
| Oregon | 1,141 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Colorado | 1,066 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Utah | 918 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Washington | 757 | October | Sep–May |
| Idaho | 557 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Arizona | 420 | November | Oct–May |
| Nevada | 330 | October | Jun–Nov |
| Texas | 278 | November | Aug–Jan |
| Montana | 206 | May | May–Oct |
| North Dakota | 205 | June | May–Aug |
| South Dakota | 196 | May | Apr–Jun |
| New Mexico | 182 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Wyoming | 178 | May | May–Jul |
| Minnesota | 107 | May | May–Jun |
| Nebraska | 63 | May | May–May |
| Kansas | 36 | May | May–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 36 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Massachusetts | 35 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Maryland | 30 | December | Dec–Jan |
| Ohio | 29 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Illinois | 20 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Pennsylvania | 18 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Alaska | 16 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Missouri | 16 | November | Nov–Dec |
| New Jersey | 14 | February | Jan–Feb |
| New York | 13 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 12 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Iowa | 9 | November | Nov–Nov |
| North Carolina | 9 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Louisiana | 8 | December | Dec–Dec |
| Wisconsin | 7 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Indiana | 6 | July | Jul–Jul |
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 Western Grebe?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to February.
Where is Western Grebe most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Oregon, Colorado.