Alaska’s Best Birdwatching Spots This Summer

Quick Take

• One spot on this list is so overrun with bald eagles that locals have a running joke comparing their abundance to city pigeons. See Homer's eagle crowds →
• Alaska's geography puts one remote location within reach of birds from two separate continents, which means every visit is a gamble with once-in-a-lifetime odds. Discover Gambell's rare odds →
• The spot that dedicated birders call one of the best on the planet looks, at first glance, like the least promising landscape on the entire list. Explore Nome's tundra birding →

Alaska is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in North America, largely due to its diverse landscapes. Whether it’s ocean, tundra, or forest, stunning scenery abounds across the state, and hundreds of bird species call it home. Studies show that the state welcomes between 300 and 500 species of birds. In this guide, we’ll tell you about Alaska’s best birdwatching spots and the winged beauties you’re likely to see there.

Why Alaska Shines in the Summer

You have a wide variety of locations to choose from when it comes to birdwatching in America, so why choose Alaska? For one thing, it’s one of the most gorgeous places on Earth. Alaska’s sheer size and diverse habitats offer many opportunities to see a host of wildlife, including a wide variety of birds.

Alaska’s geography also places it along major migratory routes, so you have a chance to see birds from around the globe. Perhaps best of all, Alaska remains largely wild. It’s filled with protected lands and a relatively low human population, allowing birders to observe animals in their natural habitat. Because large swaths of the state are uninhabited, many of Alaska’s best birdwatching spots are quite remote, but there are still plenty of trails and guided tours to help birders of all levels enjoy their visit.

Potter Marsh

Just outside of Anchorage lies Potter Marsh, which is easily one of Alaska’s best birdwatching spots. With a wooden boardwalk that winds through the vast wetland, it’s also among the state’s most accessible birding locations, offering visitors an up-close view without disturbing the wildlife. 

During the summer months, northern pintails, Canada geese, and American wigeons glide over waterways, while shorebirds like dowitchers and yellowlegs walk nearby. Majestic bald eagles are frequently spotted here as well. Potter Marsh is a hub of avian activity, so you’re unlikely to be disappointed. 

Denali National Park and Preserve

While Denali is best known for its towering peak, the enormous mountain is only part of what makes this park remarkable. This national park is also home to diverse habitats, from boreal forests to alpine tundra. Forest edges provide shelter to a variety of species, from the gray jay flitting to the hermit thrush. Higher elevations are home to golden plovers, long-tailed jaegers, and the occasional gyrfalcon. Summer is a great time to visit Denali because the birds are breeding and far more active. The long daylight hours also mean more time to spot your favorite species.

Copper River Delta

Head to this vast wetland system during the early summer, and you’ll likely see millions of migrating shorebirds, especially dunlins and sandpipers. Even after peak migration, a wide range of species remain, from waterfowl to raptors. The Copper River Delta is rich in natural resources and provides vital feeding grounds for birds to refuel after long journeys. This is the place to go for some of Alaska’s best birdwatching.

Kenai Fjords National Park

Kenai Fjords National Park is home to several species of gorgeous seabirds, many of which you can see up close. The summer months bring common murres, black-legged kittiwakes, and tufted puffins to the rocky cliffs. A boat tour through Resurrection Bay offers a different vantage point, as well as the chance to spot bald eagles. You may also catch a glimpse of marine life such as whales and sea otters.

Nome

Located on the Seward Peninsula, Nome offers access to tundra habitats and many bird species that you won’t see anywhere else in the country. Nome’s unpredictable nature sets it apart from other Alaskan birding spots. During the summer season, common residents include bluethroats, long-tailed jaegers, and red-throated pipits. Coastal areas provide an opportunity to see eiders, loons, and other birds that have crossed the Bering Strait.

Homer Spit

The Homer Spit is a narrow strip of land surrounded by marine waters, making it one of the best places to see a mix of shorebirds, seabirds, and raptors in one location. Summer is a particularly busy time when you can see black oystercatchers along rocky edges, puffins offshore, and bald eagles soaring through the air. In fact, locals often joke that eagles are as abundant around the spit as pigeons are in the city. The Homer Spit is also a great place for less mobile birdwatchers; it’s highly accessible, with easy walking paths.

St. Lawrence Island (Gambell)

Head to St. Lawrence Island to find one of Alaska’s best birdwatching spots on a remote outpost in the Bering Sea. Despite its stark landscape, the early summer months bring a variety of unique species, from auklets and puffins to murres and kittiwakes. Even the rare emperor goose makes an appearance on the island. For a dedicated birder, St. Lawrence is one of the best spots on the planet.

Tongass National Forest 

Finally, we have the Tongass National Forest, which is like a lush rainforest in Southeast Alaska. Among the towering hemlock and spruce trees, you’re likely to find many amazing songbirds. Plus, this is one of the best destinations to see bald eagles perched in tall trees or fishing along the coast.