Puffin Watching Maine

Maine, with its rugged coastlines and scenic islands, offers a unique opportunity to witness the charming Atlantic puffins. Puffin watching in Maine is an unforgettable experience, especially for nature lovers eager to see these black and white seabirds up close.

Where’s the Best Place to See Puffins in Maine?

Maine has one of the largest puffin colonies in the United States on coastal islands. The very popular site is Machias Seal Island in the region called Bold Coast. It is also an island listed under the National Wildlife Refuge, where puffins and lots of seabirds are protected. In addition, it is the only place on the island to be up close with the puffins.

Another prime puffin territory is Eastern Egg Rock, where tour boats regularly bring visitors to observe the thriving colony restored by Project Puffin, a conservation effort by the National Audubon Society. Petit Manan Island, Boothbay Harbor, and Matinicus Rock are also some of the other places where you can take a perfect puffin tour or a puffin cruise.

Machias Seal Island

Operated by the National Audubon Society, this island is one of the most dependable places to see puffins in Maine. It is a nesting ground for hundreds of puffins especially during the breeding season.

Eastern Egg Rock

Situated just off the coast of Boothbay Harbor, this island has become one of the most successful in the isolation and restoration of the puffin population as per Project Puffin.

Matinicus Rock:

Another famous site for observing puffins in their natural environment, this island is 32 km off Rockland and ranks high for bird watching.

The most remote puffin colony in Maine lies 23 miles southeast of Rockland. Famous for being the last natural stronghold for puffins in the early 1900s, Matinicus Rock also hosts razorbills, black guillemots, and even the only known nesting site for Manx Shearwater in the U.S. Access is limited to charter trips, most notably with Matinicus Excursions from Rockland. Landing on the island is prohibited during nesting season, but boat trips offer spectacular views.

Petit Manan Island:

Puffin Island is located in the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge adding it is another excellent place to see puffins in the United States.

It’s part of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge and also supports Arctic terns, razorbills, and common eiders.

Seal Island

Located about 22 miles off the mainland and eight miles northeast of Matinicus Rock, Seal Island is a thriving seabird sanctuary. Once used for military bombing practice, the island underwent successful restoration in the 1980s.

Today, it’s home to puffins, razorbills, black guillemots, and one of the largest breeding colonies of Great Cormorants in the U.S. Tours depart from Stonington (Isle au Haut Ferry) and Swan’s Island Charters, often timed with the Wings, Waves, and Woods birding festival.

What Is the Best Time of Year to See Puffins in Maine?

Atlantic Puffins arrive on Maine’s islands in late April, and puffins nest in burrows dug into the grassy slopes, with the best viewing from mid-June to late July when colonies are busiest feeding chicks. By early August, many adults start heading back to sea, though some linger into early September.

For the most activity, plan tours in the early morning or late afternoon, when puffins make frequent trips between the sea and their burrows with fish. Late-season trips can be rewarding but may offer fewer sightings as birds disperse.

If you want the highest numbers and liveliest behavior — from bill-tapping courtship to chicks being fed — book your trip for the seasonal peak in late June or early July.

What Time of Day Are Puffins Most Active?

Puffins are most active in the early morning and again in the late afternoon or evening. During the breeding season, both parents feed their chicks frequently, making the colonies easier to spot or approach when the birds travel between the open ocean and their nesting sites. They often carry beakfuls of small fish, such as herring or sand lance, back to their burrows to feed hungry chicks.

What is the history of puffins in Maine and how have conservation efforts helped their comeback?

Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica) have a long and turbulent history in Maine. A century ago, these seabirds — easily recognized by their black-and-white plumage, bright orange feet, and colorful triangular bills — thrived on Maine’s remote islands. But by the early 1900s, they had nearly vanished from the state’s coastline. By the early 20th century, overhunting for meat, eggs, and feathers, combined with habitat loss and declining fish populations, left only two isolated colonies in the Gulf of Maine.

The turning point came in 1973 with the launch of Project Puffin, led by ornithologist Stephen Kress and the National Audubon Society. Using an innovative mix of techniques — including relocating puffin chicks from Newfoundland and setting out life-sized puffin decoys to lure adults — conservationists succeeded in reestablishing puffin colonies on Eastern Egg Rock and other historic nesting islands. By 1977, puffins were breeding on Eastern Egg Rock for the first time since 1885. This marked the return of puffins to a site where they had last nested in the late 19th century.

Today, Maine’s puffin population has rebounded to around 3,000 birds, spread across key colonies such as Machias Seal Island, Matinicus Rock, Seal Island, Petit Manan Island, and Eastern Egg Rock. While the species is still classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Maine’s colonies are considered a conservation success story.

Where can I learn about puffins in Maine?

If you’re heading out to see puffins, make a stop at the visitor center in Rockland. This National Audubon facility offers exhibits on puffins' lives, their life cycle, and ongoing preservation efforts.

What other wildlife can you see on a puffin-watching tour in Maine?

While puffins are the star attraction, Maine’s offshore islands and surrounding waters teem with other fascinating wildlife. On most tours, you might spot Razorbills and Black Guillemots, close relatives of puffins with striking black-and-white plumage. Several islands host large colonies of Common, Arctic, and even endangered Roseate Terns, whose aerial dives and calls add to the spectacle.

The waters often reveal seals basking on rocky outcrops, harbor porpoises gliding just below the surface, and, on lucky days, whales such as minke or humpback. These islands also serve as important stopovers for migratory birds traveling along the Atlantic Flyway. Bird enthusiasts may also see Common Eiders, Leach’s Storm-petrels, and occasional rarities like the Manx Shearwater. Overhead, bald eagles and ospreys patrol the skies, while cormorants and gulls claim their perches along the shore.

What should I know before going on a puffin-watching tour in Maine?

Book Early

Puffin tours run from late May to mid-August, with peak sightings in mid-June through July. Booking early is essential — especially for Machias Seal Island, where only about 15 visitors per day are allowed ashore and landings depend on weather.

Dress for the Conditions

Dress in layers, as temperatures on the water can be 20–25°F cooler than on shore. Bring a windbreaker or light jacket, a hat, gloves, sturdy shoes (no flip-flops), and sun protection. Binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens will greatly enhance your experience. If you’re prone to seasickness, consider Sea Bands or medication before departure.

What Month Is Best to See Puffins?

Puffins are most interesting in June and July hence recommending that you visit during these months.

What Time of Day Are Puffins Most Active?

Puffins are usually more active during the early morning and in the evening most of which time is spent travelling to and from the foraging grounds bringing back food to their chicks.

Best Puffin-Watching Tours in Maine

Many operators provide puffin-watching cruises and tourists can learn a lot about puffins and other seabirds in the Wild. Having a knowledgeable tour guide on board can make the experience richer, offering insights into puffin behavior, local history, and conservation challenges. Here are a few popular options:

Bold Coast Charter

This tour is to Machias Seal Island where you will see the puffin through blinds put on the island. This is one of the few tours that will enable you to come face-to-face with the puffins.

Cap’n Fish’s Puffin and Whale Watching Tours

This trip is from Boothbay Harbor; it provides an opportunity to watch both: puffins and whales. Both whale watching and puffin sighting blend well therefore it is ok to take the two along to have more.

Maine Audubon Puffin Tours

Departing from Port Clyde, these tours take you to Eastern Egg Rock, home of Project Puffin. This puffin colony is a vital conservation site for the species.

Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company

Situated in Bar Harbor, it is concerned not only with watching whales but also with showing you puffins near the Petit Manan Island. Situated in Bar Harbor, this company offers trips where you can watch humpback whales breach alongside visits to puffin colonies near Petit Manan Island.

Conclusion

Puffin watching in Maine is an awe-inspiring experience, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of these colorful, seabound birds. Maine is one of the few destinations in North America where visitors can reliably see Atlantic puffins in the wild. From Bold Coast Charter tours to Project Puffin’s efforts in restoring puffin colonies, the opportunities for seeing Atlantic puffins in their natural habitat are endless.

Make sure to visit Machias Seal Island, Eastern Egg Rock, and Matinicus Rock from mid-June to early August for the best puffin-watching experience. Whether you’re on a dedicated puffin cruise or a multi-purpose wildlife tour, your trip to Maine’s ocean islands will be unforgettable.