Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is in the Porpoises family (Phocoenidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,401 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Harbour Porpoise: observations by month (U.S.)
About Harbour Porpoise
The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is one of six species of porpoise. It is one of the smallest marine mammals. As its name implies, it stays close to coastal areas or river estuaries, and as such, is the most familiar porpoise to whale watchers. This porpoise often ventures up rivers, and has been seen hundreds of miles from the sea. The harbour porpoise may be polytypic, with geographically distinct populations representing distinct races: P. p. phocoena...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Harbour Porpoise by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 491 | August | Mar–Oct |
| Washington | 411 | August | Apr–Oct |
| Maine | 270 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Alaska | 117 | May | May–Sep |
| Oregon | 63 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 35 | May | Mar–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Harbour Porpoise?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from May to October.
Where is Harbour Porpoise most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Washington, Maine.