Bird
Western Grebe
Aechmophorus occidentalis
Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 3.0
Common Names
Water Bird / Large Grebe
Habitat
Fort Clatsop
Conservation
Apparently secure
First Observed
1806-03-07
Observed At
Fort Clatsop, near present-day Astoria, Oregon
Lewis thought this large grebe was a “half size” loon. Western grebe nest across north plains, winter on Pacific coast.
In the NPS atlas of species the expedition described
Western grebe
Described at Fort Clatsop. Lewis thought this large grebe was a "half size" loon. Western grebe nest across the Northern Plains and winter on the Pacific Coast.
Source: National Park Service, Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Park Atlas.
Recent sightings
Where it’s being seen today
2 research-grade iNaturalist observations between 2024–2025. Most recent: 2025-04-21. Sourced from Terrain360 trail captures, cached locally.
