Puffin Watching
in Newfoundland
Everything You Need to Know
Over 500,000 Atlantic puffins visit Newfoundland every summer — the provincial bird of Newfoundland and Labrador. Here is when to go, where to find them, and how to get as close as these colourful birds will allow.
June – August Peak
The Provincial Bird
of Newfoundland & Labrador —
500,000 Strong
Atlantic Puffin is the provincial bird of Newfoundland and Labrador. Every season they flock to the shoreline to feed, breed, and nest. Puffins are the most colourful birds in Newfoundland and Labrador — beautiful birds with black bodies, white chests, and a vivid yellow and orange beak. They spent the summer nesting and feeding on the shore and coastal region of the island. During the winter, they migrate south and spent most of their time in the open water, feeding and swimming.
The population of puffins in Newfoundland is estimated to be over 500,000 individuals. These seabirds are commonly found along the coastlines of Newfoundland, particularly on islands like Witless Bay, Funk Island, and St. Mary’s Bay. One of the largest colonies of puffins can be found in the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve — one of the most prominent gathering places for puffins in North America. Every year like clockwork, hundreds of thousands of birds visit the reserve.
Puffins are adorable little birds and quite shy, like any other wild animal. So you won’t see them everywhere in Newfoundland. To see these birds, you have to be in the correct place at the perfect time. Luckily, there are several places in Newfoundland where puffins can be found. We recommend you keep your distance — puffins are wild birds and should not be petted or disturbed.
Puffin Season in Newfoundland
Month by Month
The best time to see puffins in Newfoundland is from mid-May to mid-August, when they come to the coast to breed. The best months are June and July when they are most active during the breeding season.
Puffins still at sea for winter. No breeding season activity. Not yet returned to nesting grounds.
Puffins begin arriving in late May. The best time to see puffins in Elliston is mid-May to early August. First sightings possible from late May.
Best month for puffins. Fully active during the breeding season. Most active during courtship. Early morning visits recommended — puffins come out shortly after sunrise.
Peak breeding and feeding. June and July are the best months when they are most active. Chicks being raised in burrows. Busiest at Elliston and Witless Bay.
Puffins still present and visible through early September. From June through August you can watch these birds feed and nest on the edge of cliffs. Numbers begin to decline late August.
It is still possible to see puffins in September. Their numbers may decline as some individuals migrate. Can be seen from late May to early September overall.
Where to See Puffins
in Newfoundland
Popular areas for puffin sightings include Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, and Elliston, among others. These are two of the best places to see puffins in Newfoundland.
Elliston is one of the best places you will get the opportunity to get up close and personal with puffins. The Elliston Puffin Viewing Site is located on the Bonavista Peninsula in Eastern Newfoundland. It is one of the most accessible puffin colonies in the province — a popular destination for bird lovers. At this puffin site in Elliston, you can get up close to see these birds while respecting their privacy. It’s a popular spot because it’s the only colony on the island that allows visitors to get very close to the birds. The view from this site is spectacular, and you can see puffins flying in and out of their burrows carved into the cliff face.
You can get so close you can almost touch them — however, we do not recommend touching these birds as they are wild animals. Access to the areas where the puffins nest is completely free. The best time to see puffins in Elliston is mid-May to early August. During this period, puffins are most active, engaged in courtship, nesting, and rearing their chicks. Elliston is also known for having a lot of Root Cellars — a fascinating cultural bonus to the visit.
The Witless Bay Ecological Reserve is home to one of North America’s largest Atlantic puffin colonies. Every year like clockwork, hundreds of thousands of birds visit. The reserve is located on a small island off the coast — to view puffins here, you must take one of the two boat tours in the area: Gatherall’s Puffin & Whale Watch and O’Brien’s Whale and Bird Tours. The boat tour will take you around the island, where you can watch the birds up close. This is also a perfect opportunity to see whales and other marine animals. Found in Bay Bulls, Witless Bay, on the Irish Loop.
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve is located on the shore of Saint Bride’s on the Avalon Peninsula. It is the best place to see seabirds in Newfoundland. The towering cliffs of Cape St. Mary’s host thousands of seabirds. You can view birds such as gannets and many others at this ecological reserve. The best time to visit the reserve is during spring and summer when there are more birds around. The dramatic sea stack known as “Bird Rock” is one of the most spectacular wildlife viewpoints in all of Atlantic Canada.
In addition to the main viewing sites, puffins can be found in other coastal areas of Newfoundland including the islands off the coast of Labrador, Funk Island, and Baccalieu Island. The Bonavista Peninsula more broadly — not just Elliston — offers excellent puffin viewing along the coastal cliffs. Puffins can also be spotted during boat tours departing from Trinity, Bonavista, and Twillingate, often alongside whale watching. It is possible to see puffins during a whale-watching tour — the coastal waters are home to numerous seabird colonies.
Puffin Boat Tour Operators
in Newfoundland
Since puffins breed on cliffs and small islands off the coast, the best way to see large numbers is by taking a boat tour. Several tour operators offer guided tours that bring you to the best spots to see these beautiful birds feeding and nesting.
Gatherall’s Puffin and Whale Watch operates boat tours into the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve — home to North America’s largest Atlantic puffin colony. The boat tour will take you around the island, where you can watch hundreds of thousands of birds up close. This is also a perfect opportunity to see whales and other marine animals. Plan ahead by booking tickets several months out — these tours sell out fast in peak season.
O’Brien’s Whale and Bird Tours provides informative and engaging tours with experienced guides into the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. Combining whale watching, puffin viewing, and other seabird encounters in a single outing, O’Brien’s is one of the most popular tour operators on the Avalon Peninsula. Located 30 minutes south of St. John’s, making it an easy day trip from the city.
The Most Colourful
Birds in Newfoundland
Puffins are seabirds that live on cliffs and small islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. You will most likely see Atlantic puffins with black-and-white colouring and orange beaks. The Atlantic puffin has a white face with some black on it. They have short wings; their body is covered with white and black feathers, and they have a large orange beak with black tips. Puffins are very social birds and live in colonies. During the breeding season, you can see their brightly coloured bills and legs.
Puffins primarily feed on small fish, such as capelin, herring, and sand lance. They have specialized bills that allow them to catch multiple fish at once, making them efficient hunters. Puffins can dive underwater in search of their prey, using their wings to propel themselves underwater, swimming and pursuing their meals. On these tours, you’ll see puffins diving into the water from heights up to 10 feet high, then fly back up without wetting their feet. They also consume shrimp, squid, and other marine invertebrates.
Puffins build nests from grasses and twigs collected from nearby beaches and grassland before laying their eggs inside them. Each nest usually holds one egg. After hatching into chicks, the young ones stay close together until they leave home around four weeks later. Puffins have bright orange beaks and feet — their bright colours help them attract mates. They stay in the region throughout the breeding season until August or September, then migrate to the open ocean for the winter months.
Puffins, Whales & Icebergs
All in One Trip
In late May and June, Newfoundland offers one of the world’s most extraordinary wildlife triple-bills — all three of the province’s iconic experiences at the same time.
Best months: June and July — most active during the breeding season. Can be seen from late May to early September. The Witless Bay Ecological Reserve and Elliston are the top two spots.
Best months: May, June and July — whales feed along the coast with their calves and pods. It is possible to see puffins during a whale-watching tour. Humpbacks, minkes, fin whales, and occasionally orcas.
Best months: May and June — icebergs are here from May through June. The combination of puffins, whales, and icebergs simultaneously in June is one of the most extraordinary wildlife experiences in Canada.
Tips for Seeing Puffins
in Newfoundland
Timing Is Everything
The best time to see puffins in Newfoundland is from mid-May to mid-August, when they come to the coast to breed. The best months are June and July, when they are most active during the breeding season. Plan ahead — the season is specific and short.
Go Early in the Morning
Puffins are diurnal birds. They typically come out of their burrows shortly after sunrise — this is when they are most active, beginning their foraging trips to the sea. Puffins are busiest in the early morning and late afternoon. Midday heat may reduce their activity levels.
Book a Boat Tour for the Best Experience
Since puffins breed on cliffs and small islands off the coast, the best way to see them in large numbers is by taking a boat tour. Plan ahead by booking tickets several months out — tours sell out fast during peak season. Both Gatherall’s and O’Brien’s operate from Bay Bulls near St. John’s.
Bring Binoculars
Even though puffins will be relatively close to you at Elliston, bringing binoculars can help you get a better look at their unique features and distinct colours. On a boat tour near the colony islands, binoculars let you observe individual behaviour in detail from the boat’s safe distance.
Choose the Right Location
While there are several locations along the coast where you can see puffins, some of the best include Elliston (free, closest access), Witless Bay Ecological Reserve (largest colony, boat tour), and Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve (dramatic cliffs, seabirds). Choose based on whether you prefer free land access or a guided boat experience.
Keep a Safe Distance
While getting as close to the puffins as possible is tempting, it is important to remember that they are still wild animals. Keep a safe distance and avoid disturbing their natural habitat. We recommend you keep your distance — puffins are wild birds and should not be petted or approached too closely, as this can stress the colony.
Puffin Watching in Newfoundland
— Common Questions
More Puffin & Wildlife Guides
Puffins
Over 500,000 Atlantic puffins — the provincial bird of Newfoundland and Labrador — are waiting. Plan your trip, book your tour, and experience one of the great wildlife spectacles of the North Atlantic.