United States
The United States offers diverse pelagic birding across both coasts and Hawaii. Atlantic trips from North Carolina's Outer Banks are legendary for rare tubenoses including Black-capped Petrel, while Pacific trips from Monterey and Half Moon Bay target Black-footed Albatross and Ashy Storm-Petrel. Seasonal highlights include spring and fall migrations bringing shearwaters and jaegers close to shore.
Sub-regions
All Trips in United States
Alaska Seabird Charters — Kenai Fjords Pelagic
Alaska Seabird Charters
- Seward, AK
- Selected dates, May–September
- $350 per person
Monterey Bay Pelagic Seabird Cruise
Monterey Seabirds
- Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey, CA
- Year-round with peak August–October; 8-hour and 12-hour departures available on selected dates (predominantly weekends during peak season); see montereyseabirds.com for current schedule and booking
- $125 per person (8-hour Monterey Sea Canyon); $160 per person (12-hour offshore Albacore Grounds)
Pioneer Canyon Pelagic Birding Trip
Alvaro's Adventures
- Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay, CA
- Multiple dates per year; peak dates August–November, with winter pelagics (February–March); also departs from Monterey, Morro Bay, and Bodega Bay on selected dates; see alvarosadventures.com/pelagic-dates-2026.html for current schedule
- ~$200–$210 per person; see alvarosadventures.com for current pricing
San Diego Offshore Pelagic
San Diego Pelagics / Buena Vista Audubon
- Mission Bay, San Diego, CA
- Selected dates, August–November
- $130–$180 per person
Pelagic Birding Trip
Friends of the Marine Science Center
- Ponce Inlet, Volusia County, Florida
- Annual; typically May to June (spring to early summer); very long day trip departing approximately 3:00 am and returning approximately 9:00 pm (approximately 18 hours at sea); travels 50+ miles offshore to the Gulf Stream; contact the Marine Science Center at (386) 304-5545 or marinesciencecenter.com for current schedule and booking
- Price on request; contact Friends of the Marine Science Center at (386) 304-5545 or marinesciencecenter.com for current pricing and availability
Spring Pelagic Tour
Audubon Everglades
- Bill Bird Marina, Haulover Park, Miami, Florida
- Annual; typically May (spring); 8-hour charter departing 8:30 am sharp (boarding 8:15 am), returning approximately 4:30 pm; open first to Audubon Everglades members, then the general public; contact [email protected] for current year dates and registration
- USD 135 for Audubon Everglades members; USD 160 for non-members (2024 pricing); fee includes boat charter, crew gratuity, snacks, and beverages; contact [email protected] for current pricing and availability
Kona Pelagic Birding Adventure
Hawaii Bird Tours
- Honokōhau Harbor, Kailua-Kona, Big Island, Hawaii
- Year-round; most productive March–October; peak diversity during transitional seasons (March–April and September–October); check website for current dates
- Contact operator for current rates
Cap'n Fish's Special Pelagic Bird Cruise — Gulf of Maine
Cap'n Fish's Cruises / Freeport Wild Bird Supply
- Boothbay Harbor, ME
- Selected dates, July–October; half-day departures; additional Freeport Wild Bird Supply-organised dates spring and fall — see freeportwildbirdsupply.com/pelagics for scheduled outings
- Contact operator for current pricing
Maryland Mid-Atlantic Pelagic
Hillstar Nature
- Ocean City, Maryland (and Lewes, Delaware for overnight summer trips)
- Multiple dates per year — summer overnight from Lewes, DE (August); fall deepwater from Ocean City, MD (September); winter pelagics (December–February); see hillstarnature.com/pelagics for current schedule
- ~$265 per person; see hillstarnature.wetravel.com for current pricing and availability
BBC Overnight Pelagic — Hydrographer Canyon
Brookline Bird Club
- Hyannis, MA
- Selected dates, July–September; overnight 36-hour trips departing Hyannis
- $340–$380 per person
NH Audubon Jeffrey's Ledge Pelagic Birding Trip
New Hampshire Audubon / Massabesic Audubon Center
- Rye Harbor, NH
- Selected dates in spring (May) and fall (September); trips sell out quickly — see nhaudubon.org/events for current schedule and registration
- $75 NH Audubon members / $95 non-members
Cape May Offshore Pelagic
Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center / Cape May Bird Observatory
- Cape May, NJ
- Selected dates, year-round; 6-hour, 12-hour, and 24-hour departures available
- $85–$150 per person
Hudson Canyon Pelagic Bird & Marine Wildlife Trip
American Princess Cruises
- Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY
- Year-round with multiple formats: 24-hour overnight trips in late spring, summer and autumn to Hudson Canyon; 12-hour day trips primarily in winter and summer; 6-hour special trips in spring and autumn. See americanprincesscruises.com for current schedule and event listings; 2026 dates confirmed.
- See americanprincesscruises.com for current pricing per trip format; contact [email protected]
Hatteras Offshore Pelagic
Seabirding / Brian Patteson
- Hatteras Landing Marina, Hatteras, NC (spring–early summer) or Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, Nags Head, NC (mid-summer–autumn) — see patteson.com for specific departure location by date
- Every Saturday, May–October; occasional extra dates
- $220–$235 per person
Oregon Pelagic Tours
Oregon Pelagic Tours
- Newport, OR
- Selected dates, July–October
- $110–$160 per person
Gulf Eagle Offshore Pelagic
Deep Sea Headquarters / McIntyre Birding Tours
- Port Aransas, TX
- Selected dates, August–October; 12-hour and 48-hour trips
- $150–$250 per person
Gulf Eagle Gulf of Mexico Pelagic
McIntyre Birding Tours / Deep Sea Headquarters
- Deep Sea Headquarters, 440 W Cotter Ave, Port Aransas, Texas 78373
- Multiple dates per year, with a heavy concentration of departures in the fall season (August–November). Both 12-hour day trips and 48-hour extended offshore trips are offered. Contact Captain Jon McIntyre directly to enquire about current dates and availability: [email protected] or phone (361) 749-5597 (also Deep Sea Headquarters main number).
- $150–250 per person for 12-hour day trips; 48-hour extended offshore trips available at higher pricing; verify current rates and dates directly with Captain McIntyre at [email protected] or (361) 749-5597
Texas Gulf of Mexico Pelagic
Texas Pelagics
- South Padre Island, Texas (primary departure point); also Port Aransas and Freeport, Texas
- Multiple trips per year, typically late summer through autumn (August–October). The 2026 schedule runs August 8, August 29, September 12, and October 3 from South Padre Island. Trips are 12–14 hours; most depart in the evening or early morning to maximise time on productive offshore waters. Check texaspelagics.com for current dates, departure points, and trip lists — add your name to the list directly on the website.
- Approximately $173 per person (2026 pricing from South Padre Island); verify current pricing and availability at texaspelagics.com
Seabirding Virginia Beach — Norfolk Canyon Pelagic
Seabirding (Brian Patteson, Inc.)
- Lynnhaven Inlet, Virginia Beach, VA
- Winter trips (January–March) targeting alcids and cold-water species; summer/fall trips (August–October) targeting shearwaters, petrels, and phalaropes; see seabirding.com/schedule for current dates
- $235 per person per day (2026 pricing; confirm at seabirding.com/schedule)
Westport Seabirds
Westport Seabirds
- Westport, WA
- March–September; approximately 24 departures per season, up to 3 per week in peak August
- $220 per person
Further Reading
When to Go Pelagic Birding in the United States
A seasonal guide to pelagic birding across the US, covering the East Coast, West Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Read article →Best Pelagic Birding Trips on the US East Coast
A regional guide to the top pelagic trips from Cape Hatteras and New England canyons to Florida's tropical seabirds.
Read article →Best Pelagic Birding Trips on the US West Coast
A regional guide to West Coast pelagics: Westport's shearwater flocks, Oregon's Heceta Bank, San Diego's tropical rarities, and Alaska's seabird colonies.
Read article →Where to See Albatrosses on Pelagic Birding Trips
A guide to where to see albatrosses on pelagic trips worldwide, including Black-footed Albatross on Westport Seabirds' Washington pelagics — celebrated for fall albatross movements — and Laysan and Black-footed Albatrosses on Hawaii's Kona Pelagic Birding Adventure.
Read article →Explore Other Regions
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pelagic birding trips are there in United States?
United States has 20 pelagic birding trips listed in the directory, spanning 16 sub-regions.
Where do pelagic trips depart from in United States?
Pelagic trips in United States depart from Bill Bird Marina, Haulover Park, Miami, Florida, Boothbay Harbor, ME, Cape May, NJ, Deep Sea Headquarters, 440 W Cotter Ave, Port Aransas, Texas 78373, Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey, CA, Hatteras Landing Marina, Hatteras, NC (spring–early summer) or Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, Nags Head, NC (mid-summer–autumn) — see patteson.com for specific departure location by date, Honokōhau Harbor, Kailua-Kona, Big Island, Hawaii, Hyannis, MA, Lynnhaven Inlet, Virginia Beach, VA, Mission Bay, San Diego, CA, Newport, OR, Ocean City, Maryland (and Lewes, Delaware for overnight summer trips), Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay, CA, Ponce Inlet, Volusia County, Florida, Port Aransas, TX, Rye Harbor, NH, Seward, AK, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY, South Padre Island, Texas (primary departure point); also Port Aransas and Freeport, Texas, and Westport, WA.
Which operators run pelagic trips in United States?
Alaska Seabird Charters, Alvaro's Adventures, American Princess Cruises, Audubon Everglades, Brookline Bird Club, Cap'n Fish's Cruises / Freeport Wild Bird Supply, Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center / Cape May Bird Observatory, Deep Sea Headquarters / McIntyre Birding Tours, Friends of the Marine Science Center, Hawaii Bird Tours, Hillstar Nature, McIntyre Birding Tours / Deep Sea Headquarters, Monterey Seabirds, New Hampshire Audubon / Massabesic Audubon Center, Oregon Pelagic Tours, San Diego Pelagics / Buena Vista Audubon, Seabirding (Brian Patteson, Inc.), Seabirding / Brian Patteson, Texas Pelagics, and Westport Seabirds operate pelagic birding trips in United States.
What are the main pelagic birding regions in United States?
United States's pelagic trips are spread across Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Texas Gulf Coast, Virginia, and Washington.