Sowerby’s beaked whale fact sheet

The sowerby’s beaked whale was the
first of the beaked whales to be discovered from an individual stranded in the year
of 1800.  It is one of the most commonly stranded
species of beaked whale, and have one of the most northerly distributions.
Although they appear to be relatively common around the Azores, they are not
often seen on the surface. This is often the case with members of the beaked whale family that spend very little time on the surface and avoid boats. 


The sowerby’s beaked whale may be
identified from the shape of its head and
its long slender beak which it brings out of the water upon surfacing, and as other Mesoplodons they don’t have the middle notch on the fluke. However,
identification is difficult and is often only possibly if the individual is
stranded. When stranded they make a sound similar to that of a cow mooing. Sowerby’s beaked whales are
usually seen in very small groups of fewer than 10 individuals. As with other beaked whales, little is known about their behaviour.