Back to Graceful Giants

Humpback Whale

Graceful Giants of the Sea

The humpback whale is neither the biggest nor the smallest type of whale. Adult humpbacks measure 40 to 50 feet when fully grown. Size is not the reason people find humpbacks so
interesting, however. With their great leaps, mysterious songs, and friendly nature, humpback whales are among the most fascinating creatures in the sea.

Humpbacks belong to a group of whales called baleen whales. Instead of teeth, these whales have hundreds of thin plates called baleen in their mouths. Humpbacks mainly eat small sea animals, such as krill, shrimp, and small fish.
When a humpback finds food in the ocean, it opens its mouth wide. Hundreds of gallons of water rush in. Then the whale uses its baleen like a strainer, pushing the water out of its
mouth and trapping the food inside.

Humpbacks are world travelers. They swim thousands of miles in their yearly migrations, often moving in groups called pods. They can be found in all the world's oceans. Humpbacks spend the summer in cold waters, where they
eat a great deal. During the winter, they move to warmer waters and eat very little. In these warm waters, female humpbacks give birth to their babies, or calves.

Humpbacks are amazing acrobats. Their flippers, which are about 15 feet long, are the longest flippers of any whale. Humpbacks can use their flippers to propel themselves straight up into the air. Seeing a 30-ton whale lift its
whole body out of the water and then come splashing down is a truly awesome sight!

Many kinds of whales make songlike noises, but the songs of the humpback are the most complex. These songs can be heard for miles underwater. They are made up of patterns of notes. The notes may be low moans and groans or high chirps and cries. A song pattern usually lasts 15 to 30 minutes. Patterns are repeated over and over again, sometimes for more than 20 hours! No one knows for sure
why the humpback sings. However, humpbacks are famous for their strangely beautiful songs.

Unlike many other wild animals, humpbacks seem unafraid of people. In fact, humpbacks sometimes seem as if they are curious about people. They've given plenty of breathtaking
shows, leaping out of the water right in front of whale-watching boats! If you've ever seen a humpback, you know what a thrill it is. If you haven't, perhaps someday you will have a chance to watch one of these graceful giants of
the sea.

Back to Wonderful Whales