Whales in New York in August
Yes, August is one of the best months to see whales in New York. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 1,706 of the 17,173 sightings logged across the year (9.9%), 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 June 28, 2026.
Peak month for whales in New York
9.9%
of yearly sightings
1,706
records in August
#3
busiest month of 12
17,173
verified records a year
July 10.7%, August 9.9%, September 9.5%. Busiest month is June at 13.5%.
17,173 verified observations of whales in New York, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When whales are recorded in New York
Peak month
June
2,320 records (13.5% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 972 | 5.7% |
| February | 908 | 5.3% |
| March | 1,267 | 7.4% |
| April | 1,589 | 9.3% |
| May | 1,646 | 9.6% |
| Junepeak | 2,320 | 13.5% |
| Julypeak | 1,833 | 10.7% |
| Augustpeak | 1,706 | 9.9% |
| September | 1,633 | 9.5% |
| October | 1,260 | 7.3% |
| November | 1,109 | 6.5% |
| December | 930 | 5.4% |
Whales you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | 16,272 |
| Moose | 174 |
| Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin | 173 |
| Humpback Whale | 140 |
| Sika Deer | 36 |
| Common Dolphin | 24 |
| Common Minke Whale | 15 |
| Harbour Porpoise | 8 |
In New York, August carries 9.9% of the year's whales sightings, about 1.6 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity holds steady between July and August, and it heads toward September (9.5%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so August is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The whales most often recorded in New York are White-tailed Deer, Moose and Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin. Those counts are annual totals rather than a August split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in August itself.
Which whales you are most likely to see
- White-tailed Deer16,272 records
- Moose174 records
- Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin173 records
- Humpback Whale140 records
- Sika Deer36 records
- Common Dolphin24 records
Plan your whale trip in New York
Start with live tours near Appalachian National Scenic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main whale viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best whale viewing area in New York.
Viator
Broader backupBook a whale tour in New York
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see whales in New York in August?+
Yes. August accounts for 1,706 of the 17,173 verified whales sightings logged in New York across the year, which is 9.9% of the annual total.
Is August a good time to see whales in New York?+
August is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of June, July and August.
What month is best for whales in New York?+
June is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through June, July and August, based on 17,173 verified observations.
Which whales are you most likely to see in New York?+
The most-recorded species in New York are White-tailed Deer, Moose and Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.