arrow_back Species Library
Clark's Grebe
Birds Active during the day

Clark's Grebe

Aechmophorus clarkii

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

Master of the water dance, the Clark's Grebe is a vision of elegance on Western lakes. Known for sprinting across the water in perfectly synchronized pairs, this striking waterbird is a favorite for backyard lake-watchers.

0 Sightings
0 Habitats

Quick Identification

straighten

Size

Length: 22-29 inches (56-74 cm); Wingspan: 30-34 inches (76-86 cm); Weight: 2.4-3.3 lbs (1.1-1.5 kg)

palette

Colors

Striking black and white plumage; pure white throat and neck; bright yellow to orange-yellow bill; black cap that sits above the eye

visibility

Key Features

  • Bright orange-yellow bill
  • White feathers surrounding the red eye
  • Long, swan-like white neck
  • Graceful, slender profile during dives
add_a_photo
Is this a Clark's Grebe?

Drop a photo or video to find out instantly

When You’ll See Them

schedule
Activity pattern Active during the day
brightness_5
Peak hours 6-10 AM, 4-7 PM
calendar_month
Season May-August
restaurant
Diet Almost exclusively small fish caught during deep underwater dives; they also consume aquatic insects, crustaceans, and larval amphibians.
park
Habitat Large freshwater lakes with marshy edges for nesting; coastal bays and estuaries during winter months.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Clark's Grebe Live?

The Clark's Grebe is a quintessential bird of western North America. It breeds primarily in the inland lakes of the western United States and southwestern Canada, with significant populations found in California, Oregon, and the Great Basin. During the winter, these birds migrate to the Pacific coast, ranging from southern British Columbia down to central Mexico, where they also inhabit several large highland lakes year-round.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

3 Countries
2.5M km² Range
Least Concern Conservation
US United States
Marginal
MX Mexico
Marginal
CA Canada
Marginal
eco
iNaturalist / Verified observation data
View on iNaturalist open_in_new

Explore more Birds arrow_forward

Behavior

Clark's Grebes are famous for their high-speed aquatic choreography. Their most spectacular behavior is 'rushing,' where a pair of birds races across the water's surface for up to 60 feet, standing nearly upright with their wings back and necks arched. This synchronized display is part of a complex courtship ritual that also includes 'weed dancing' and formal head-shaking.

Outside of courtship, they are highly social birds that nest in large colonies, sometimes numbering in the hundreds. They are dedicated parents; once the chicks hatch, they immediately climb onto a parent's back. The adults will swim and even dive with the chicks tucked securely under their wings, a behavior known as 'back-brooding' that protects the young from predators and cold water. While they are powerful flyers, they are awkward on land because their legs are positioned far back on their bodies for efficient diving.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

To capture the Clark's Grebe on camera, you need to focus on the water's edge. Because these birds rarely come ashore, the best placement for a trail camera is on a sturdy dock, a low-hanging branch over a calm inlet, or a specialized floating platform anchored near reed beds. Set your camera as low to the water line as possible; a 'bird's eye view' from high up loses the dramatic effect of their long necks. A low angle (1-2 feet above the water) provides an intimate, professional-grade perspective of their swimming and back-brooding activities.

AI-powered cameras should be set to high-sensitivity motion detection, as grebes can move surprisingly fast across the frame. If your camera supports high-frame-rate video (60fps or higher), use it to capture the incredible detail of their 'rushing' courtship displays. Since grebes are sensitive to human presence, a camera with a good telephoto range or a cellular trail cam that doesn't require frequent SD card swaps is ideal to minimize disturbance near nesting sites.

Baiting is not recommended for grebes, as they hunt live fish, but you can increase your chances by scouting 'travel lanes.' Grebes often follow the same paths through gaps in rushes or lilies to reach open water. Positioning your camera at these natural bottlenecks during the breeding season (May-July) is the most effective way to see the chicks riding on their parents' backs. Early morning light is your best friend; the calm water provides mirror-like reflections that make for stunning, high-contrast imagery against their white plumage.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Clark's Grebe.

Western Grebe

The Western Grebe has a darker, olive-colored bill and the black of its cap extends down below the eye.

Horned Grebe

Much smaller with a shorter neck and distinctive golden 'horns' of feathers during the breeding season.

Red-necked Grebe

Has a thicker neck, a stouter bill, and a namesake chestnut-red neck during the summer.

Browse all Birds arrow_forward

Frequently Asked Questions

Clark's Grebes are diurnal, meaning they are most active during the day. You will see the most social activity and foraging during the early morning and late afternoon when the water is typically calmer.
Clark's Grebes cannot be attracted with birdseed or traditional feeders. If you have lakefront property, you can attract them by preserving natural marshy shorelines and reed beds, which they use for nesting and protection.
Their diet consists almost entirely of small fish, which they spear or grab with their sharp bills during underwater dives. They also eat some aquatic invertebrates and crustaceans.
They are common in suburban areas that are situated on large, permanent lakes or near coastal estuaries in the Western United States. They are not found in typical wooded or grassy backyards.
Look at the eyes and the bill. Clark's Grebe has white feathers surrounding the eye and a bright orange-yellow bill, whereas the Western Grebe has black feathers around the eye and a duller olive-yellow bill.

Record Clark's Grebe at your habitat

Connect a camera to start building your own species record — AI identifies every visitor automatically.

Join free Identify a photo