{"id":2578,"date":"2007-07-30T08:09:00","date_gmt":"2007-07-30T08:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whalewatchingazores.com\/blog\/2007\/07\/30\/humpback-whale-2\/"},"modified":"2022-02-07T16:21:11","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T17:21:11","slug":"humpback-whale-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whalewatchingazores.com\/blog\/humpback-whale-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Humpback whale fact sheet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Humpback are distinguished by their long pectoral fins (which can reach up to 5 m in length), and by their knobbly head (these \u201ctubbercles\u201d are actually hair follicles). They are also well known for their aerial behaviours, as these whales are often seen breaching, lobtailing, pectoral fin slapping, and spyhopping, especially in the breeding grounds. In the tropical breeding grounds male humpback whales can also be heard \u2018singing\u2019 very complex haunting melodies which are thought to be to show their suitability to the females. The whales spend the winter months in the warmer breeding grounds and carry out long migrations to spend the winter months feeding on plankton in the cooler waters. The scientific name means ‘big wing new englander’ and refers to the pectoral fins and the species was first described in New England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Azores is along the northern hemisphere migration route, from Cape Verde and on their way to Norway (as we have ID matches from these places). They might also be migrating from Costa Rica. So these whales can occasionally be seen here, but not as regularly as the other baleen whales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humpback whales are colour blind. Most of the colours in the ocean appear blue or green, because blue and green light waves penetrate deeperinto the ocean, leaving those of us with colour vision at a loss. Humpback whales don’t need to worry about colours, all they care about is contrast. They see contrasts very well which helps them see their prey of schooling fish or krill. These big schools appear as dark masses while the background (water) is lighter, so their food stands from the rest. Sined they likely feed at night or in very deep waters at times, eyesight is probably not the only way they find food. But the shining lining behind their retina (tapetum lucidum) makes the most of whatever light is underwater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Length: <\/strong>
\u2022 Male: 17 m
\u2022 Female: 19 m
\u2022 Calf: 4 \u2013 5 m<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight: <\/strong>
\u2022 Female: 40,000 kg
\u2022 Calf: 1,000 \u2013 2,000 kg<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global population: <\/strong>c.63,000 (population trend increasing)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Status:<\/strong> Least Concern<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diet: <\/strong>Krill<\/a>, small schooling fish<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baleen: <\/strong>270 \u2013 400 pairs (grey)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Longevity: <\/strong>Up to 48 years<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breeding age: <\/strong>Unknown<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gestation: <\/strong>1 year<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nursing: <\/strong>1 year<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other languages<\/strong>
Portuguese: Baleia-de-bossa
Spanish: Ballena jorobada
French: Baleine \u00e0 bosse
Italian: Megattera
German: Buckelwal
Dutch: Bultrug
Swedish: Kn\u00f6lval
Norwegian: Kn\u00f8lhval
Danish: Pukkelhval
Finnish: Ryh\u00e4valas
Polish: Pletwal
Russian: Dlinnorukyi polosatik, gorbach<\/p>\n\n\n\n