Monhegan Island is the destination for many commercial tour companies. It is a famous migrant trap, as the birds often descend into the trees and shrubs of the village itself, feeding voraciously and ignoring the closest observers. The village is confined to the western side of the island. The eastern side is a dramatic series of cliffs and coves. Though the island is only one square mile in size, 17 miles of interwoven trails crisscross it. It is possible to sit on any of the cliffs and scan for passing Northern Gannets, and perhaps Parasitic or Pomarine Jaegers. Breeding Common Eiders and Black Guillemots surround the island. Laughing Gulls mix with the Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls. Peak birding occurs during the last three weeks of May and from late August through early October.

At peak migration, a morning might turn up twenty different species of warbler. Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels, Merlins, and Peregrine Falcons follow coastal migration routes and often touch down on the island. Out-of-range species are a common occurrence.