Best Time to See Puffins in the US
July, June and August is the best time to see puffins in the United States. This is a national picture built from 4,295 verified iNaturalist observations across 4 states, showing when and where puffins are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
4,295 verified observations of puffins in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When puffins are recorded in the US
Peak month
July
1,396 records (32.5% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 5 | 0.1% |
| February | 22 | 0.5% |
| March | 10 | 0.2% |
| April | 66 | 1.5% |
| May | 474 | 11% |
| Junepeak | 1,280 | 29.8% |
| Julypeak | 1,396 | 32.5% |
| Augustpeak | 937 | 21.8% |
| September | 91 | 2.1% |
| October | 7 | 0.2% |
| November | 2 | 0% |
| December | 5 | 0.1% |
Puffins you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Tufted Puffin | 1,716 |
| Atlantic Puffin | 1,506 |
| Horned Puffin | 1,069 |
Across the country, puffins sightings peak in July, when 1,396 of the 4,295 annual observations are logged, about 32.5% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through July, June and August.
The best states to see puffins by recorded sightings are Alaska (2,204), Maine (1,510), Oregon (571) and Massachusetts (10). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The puffins you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Tufted Puffin, Atlantic Puffin and Horned Puffin, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see puffins
- puffins in Alaska2,204 sightings, peak July
- puffins in Maine1,510 sightings, peak June
- puffins in Oregon571 sightings, peak July
- puffins in Massachusetts10 sightings, peak March
Most-recorded puffins species nationwide
- Tufted Puffin1,716 records
- Atlantic Puffin1,506 records
- Horned Puffin1,069 records
Plan your puffin trip in Alaska
Start with live tours near Alaska, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Alaska
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main puffin viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near Alaska
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best puffin viewing area in Alaska.
Viator
Broader backupBook a puffin tour in Alaska
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see puffins in the US?+
July is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through July, June and August, based on 4,295 verified observations across 4 states.
Which states are best for seeing puffins?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are Alaska, Maine and Oregon. Alaska leads with 2,204 verified observations.
How many puffins sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 4,295 verified puffins observations are logged on iNaturalist across 4 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of puffins live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Tufted Puffin, Atlantic Puffin and Horned Puffin, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.