Maine wildlife
Atlantic puffin
Fratercula arctica
Atlantic puffins are seabirds that return to Maine's islands each spring.
See the Atlantic puffin up close
Best months
Jun · Jul
Best viewing is on early morning boat tours during June–July; check with Maine Audubon or local tour operators for current schedules.
Where to look
Boothbay Harbor (boat tours to Eastern Egg Rock)Cutler (boat tours to Machias Seal Island)
Conservation status
Breeding visitor to Maine's coastal islands in summer
Good to know
When is the best time to see puffins in Maine?
June through July, when they are nesting on the islands.
Can I see puffins from the mainland?
No, you need to take a boat tour to the offshore islands.
Make it a trip
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