Humpback Whales in California in September
Yes, September is one of the best months to see humpback whales in California. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 918 of the 5,534 sightings logged across the year (16.6%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 10, 2026.
Peak month for humpback whales in California
16.6%
of yearly sightings
918
records in September
#2
busiest month of 12
5,534
verified records a year
August 16.8%, September 16.6%, October 13.7%. Busiest month is August at 16.8%.
5,534 verified observations of humpback whales in California, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When humpback whales are recorded in California
Peak month
August
928 records (16.8% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 83 | 1.5% |
| February | 55 | 1% |
| March | 204 | 3.7% |
| April | 343 | 6.2% |
| May | 464 | 8.4% |
| June | 556 | 10% |
| July | 690 | 12.5% |
| Augustpeak | 928 | 16.8% |
| Septemberpeak | 918 | 16.6% |
| Octoberpeak | 760 | 13.7% |
| November | 376 | 6.8% |
| December | 157 | 2.8% |
Humpback Whales you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Humpback Whale | 5,534 |
In California, September carries 16.6% of the year's humpback whales sightings, about 8.3 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 2nd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity holds steady between August and September, and it heads toward October (13.7%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so September is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The humpback whales most often recorded in California are Humpback Whale. Those counts are annual totals rather than a September split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in September itself.
Which humpback whales you are most likely to see
- Humpback Whale5,534 records
Plan your humpback whale trip in California
Start with live tours near Alcatraz Island, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
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Live tours nearbySee live tours near Alcatraz Island
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main humpback whale viewing area.
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Stay nearbyStay near Alcatraz Island
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Broader backupBook a humpback whale tour in California
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Frequently asked questions
Can you see humpback whales in California in September?+
Yes. September accounts for 918 of the 5,534 verified humpback whales sightings logged in California across the year, which is 16.6% of the annual total.
Is September a good time to see humpback whales in California?+
September is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of August, September and October.
What month is best for humpback whales in California?+
August is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through August, September and October, based on 5,534 verified observations.
Which humpback whales are you most likely to see in California?+
The most-recorded species in California are Humpback Whale, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See humpback whales in California in other months
More wildlife in California