Quick Answers
Puffins can be found along the northeastern coast of the United States and parts of the Pacific Northwest during their breeding season from April to August. The best places to see them include Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. Some key locations are:
- Maine – Eastern Egg Rock, Seal Island, and Machias Seal Island
- Massachusetts – Monomoy Island
- New York – Gull Island
- Washington – Protection Island and Smith Island
- Oregon – Yaquina Head
- Alaska – St. Paul Island, St. George Island, Chiswell Islands, and the Pribilof Islands
All About Puffins
The Atlantic Puffin is a small seabird in the auk family. It is also known as the “clown of the sea” due to its colorful beak and endearing appearance. Some key facts about puffins:
- There are four species of puffins worldwide, but only the Atlantic Puffin breeds in North America.
- They spend most of their lives at sea, only coming to land to breed.
- They nest in underground burrows on rocky islands and cliffsides.
- Puffins form long-term pair bonds and return to their breeding grounds each year.
- Their diet consists mainly of small fish such as herring, hake, and capelin.
- They can dive up to 200 feet in search of food.
- Puffins reach breeding age around 4-5 years old.
- They have a lifespan of approximately 20 years.
Seeing puffins in the wild is a special treat. Their compact bodies, colorful beaks, and upright posture make them fun to observe. Now let’s look at some of the best places in the U.S. to spot them!
Maine
Maine has the largest Atlantic Puffin population in the United States and is one of the most reliable places to see them. Here are some prime Maine viewing spots:
- Eastern Egg Rock – This small, rocky island 7 miles offshore is home to around 150 puffin pairs. Boat tours run frequently in summer.
- Seal Island – Over 100 puffin pairs breed here. It’s part of Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
- Machias Seal Island – Accessible by boat from Cutler, this Canadian island has over 300 puffin pairs.
- Petit Manan Island – Part of Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge, it has a puffin colony visible from an observation deck.
The best time to see puffins in Maine is from mid-April through August. Some of the coastal towns that offer puffin watching boat tours include Boothbay Harbor, Milbridge, Bar Harbor, and Jonesport.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts has a small but growing Atlantic Puffin population at one main location:
- Monomoy Island – This protected 7 mile long island off Cape Cod is home to over 30 puffin pairs as of 2022. The refuge offers summer boat tours to view puffins.
Numbers have increased recently thanks to conservation efforts. Prime puffin watching is during June and July on Monomoy Island.
New York
New York’s puffin population is limited to one hard to reach island:
- Gull Island – This small island southeast of Long Island has around 8 puffin pairs. It’s only accessible by private boat.
Gull Island does not offer puffin watching tours. But bold birders with access to a seaworthy private vessel could try viewing in summer.
Washington
The Pacific Northwest hosts puffins during the summer breeding months. Here are the main spots:
- Protection Island – Home to around 700 puffin pairs and accessible only by boat.
- Smith Island – This state park hosts 80+ puffin pairs best seen by kayak.
Prime viewing on Protection and Smith Islands is during May, June and July. Some tour companies offer seasonal puffin cruises from Port Townsend.
Oregon
Oregon’s top spot to see puffins is along its scenic coastline:
- Yaquina Head – An outstanding nature preserve jutting into the Pacific. Features an observation building to watch puffins on the cliffs and rocks offshore.
The best months are June and July when hundreds of puffins flock around Yaquina Head. The viewing center and lighthouse are open year-round.
Alaska
The Alaskan islands in the Bering Sea provide superb puffin watching opportunities:
- Pribilof Islands – Home to over 2 million seabirds including 500,000+ Atlantic Puffins split among three islands – St. Paul, St. George, and Otter Island.
- Chiswell Islands – This string of small islands near the Kenai Peninsula has sizable puffin colonies.
- Semidi Islands – Located southwest of Kodiak Island, these islands host 100,000+ puffins during summer.
Many puffin viewing tours operate out of Homer, Kodiak, and Nome during May through August. St. Paul and St. George Islands offer land-based puffin viewing as well.
When to See Puffins
April through August is peak puffin viewing season in the U.S. The exact months depend on the location:
| State | Best Viewing Months |
|---|---|
| Maine | May – August |
| Massachusetts | June – July |
| New York | June – July |
| Washington | May – July |
| Oregon | June – July |
| Alaska | June – August |
Puffins spend most of their lives on the open ocean except for the breeding season when they flock back to land. Early summer is ideal for sightings as puffins court, nest, hatch chicks, and feed young. By August, many puffins will have headed back out to sea.
How to See Puffins
Here are some tips for viewing puffins:
- Take a puffin cruise or tour – The easiest way to see puffins is through a chartered boat tour or cruise that will take you offshore to breeding islands.
- Visit puffin breeding grounds – Some islands allow you to directly access puffin rookeries but use caution and view from a distance.
- Pack binoculars and spotting scopes – Puffins appear as small black and white birds from a distance. Optics will give you better views.
- Come mid-morning – Puffins head out early to fish and return by mid-morning to feed chicks.
- Check tide charts – Low tides expose more puffin nesting rocks.
- Look for fluttering flight – Puffins have a distinct erratic fluttering flight pattern over the water.
- Focus on cliffsides – Puffins typically nest along steep rocky coasts and cliffsides.
- Visiting breeding islands usually requires a permit – Research rules and restrictions before visiting national wildlife refuges and reserves where puffins nest.
With a little planning, you can experience the special joy of seeing puffins in their natural habitat along the U.S. coastline. So pack your binoculars and start planning your puffin viewing adventure!
Conclusion
Seeing an Atlantic Puffin in the wild is a memorable experience that draws birders and nature lovers to the northeastern coast and Pacific Northwest each summer. Maine, Massachusetts, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska host most of the U.S. puffin population during the breeding season between April and August. Colonies can be viewed from boats, coastal trails, and islands when visiting responsibly and following regulations. With a pair of binoculars and timing your visit over the summer months, you’ll have a good chance to spot these colorful seabirds in their natural habitat along the U.S. coastline.
