The humpback whale is a large baleen whale, reaching up to 18m long. They are found throughout the world's oceans and perform some of the longest migrations of any mammal. They feast on fish and krill in productive cooler waters and then travel to tropical seas to give birth. In UK seas, they are normally spotted alone or in pairs. Look out for the 5m long pectoral fins (front flippers) that give the humpback whale their Megaptera novaeangliae - meaning Big-winged New-Englander!
How to identify
Humpback whales are unmistakable, thanks to their unique knobbly head and the long wing-like front flippers that they often raise and slap on the surface. Their body is black or dark grey with a white underside. The first sign of a whale is often the blow as they exhale at the surface; in humpback whales the blow is bushy and around 3m high.
Did you know?
Using the unique pattern of markings on the underside of its tail fluke, we know that a humpback whale seen feeding off the Shetland Isles has also been recorded in breeding grounds off Guadeloupe in the Caribbean!
