Marbled Murrelets are in Alaska all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from the second week of July, peak in late July (8.3% of checklists), and fall back by mid August. In the quietest week (early April) they are still on about 2.2% of checklists.
When to look
Numbers buildJul 8-14the second week of July
PeakJul 22-31late July
Fall back byAug 15-21mid August
FewestApr 1-7early April
Best: late July. Here all year; numbers build from the second week of July and fall back by mid August. Peak: on about 8.3% of Alaska checklists.
Jancommon
Febcommon
Marcommon
Aprcommon
Maycommon
Juncommon
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Sepcommon
Octuncommon
Novcommon
Deccommon
Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.
Share of complete checklists reporting it, by week (4 per month). Grey bars: fewer than 10 checklists, not counted.
Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Alaska that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
today
0%few checklistsno data
Each county is shaded by the share of complete checklists there that listed the bird, blended with the weeks either side. Darker is more often. It follows where people watch birds, not how many birds there are. How to read it.
First LakeKenai Peninsula Borough, best mid July · 20 checklists that week, 494 in all87%
South Marble IslandHoonah-Angoon Census Area, best late July · 20 checklists that week, 198 in all74%
Hoben ParkKenai Peninsula Borough, best early June · 24 checklists that week, 282 in all71%
Point LouisaJuneau City and Borough, best the second week of May · 25 checklists that week, 984 in all63%
First Lake (northeast)Kenai Peninsula Borough, best early June · 26 checklists that week, 345 in all54%
Busy spots report more of everything; compare the checklist counts before you drive anywhere.
Best time of day
In Alaska, the Marbled Murrelet is most often listed on checklists started between 7 and 9 am (5.0% of those checklists).
Share of checklists started in each local hour that reported it. It reflects when people go birding as well as when birds are active. Grey hours have too few checklists (under 2% of the state’s, or under 200) to judge.Week-by-week table
Month
Days 1-7
8-14
15-21
22-end
January
4.8%
3.8%
4.8%
4.4%
February
5.5%
4.7%
4.4%
4.4%
March
3.6%
3.2%
3.4%
2.5%
April
2.2%
1.9%
2.7%
3.0%
May
4.1%
4.1%
4.2%
3.5%
June
3.0%
2.6%
2.9%
3.2%
July
4.7%
5.9%
8.8%
8.0%
August
8.3%
7.0%
6.6%
4.5%
September
3.9%
3.3%
3.1%
2.6%
October
2.5%
2.3%
1.8%
2.6%
November
3.4%
4.1%
4.4%
4.8%
December
4.2%
4.4%
4.7%
4.8%
Neighboring states
Washington: arrives the second week of April, 12 weeks earlier than Alaska
Common questions
When do Marbled Murrelets arrive in Alaska?
Marbled Murrelets are in Alaska all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from the second week of July, peak in late July (8.3% of checklists), and fall back by mid August. In the quietest week (early April) they are still on about 2.2% of checklists.
When do Marbled Murrelets leave Alaska?
Marbled Murrelets never fully leave Alaska: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid August, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.2% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see a Marbled Murrelet in Alaska?
The Marbled Murrelet is reported most often in late July, on about 8.3% of Alaska checklists.
Where in Alaska are Marbled Murrelets seen most often?
By county, Skagway Municipality, Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, and Chugach Census Area have the highest peak reporting rates for the Marbled Murrelet (counties with at least 200 checklists).
