SEI WHALE

Balaenoptera borealis

The sei whale is the least known of the rorqual family and can easily be confused with other species. Their relatively large dorsal fin can be used to distinguish them from other baleen whales.

They have a single ridge on the top of the head, unlike the Bryde’s whale which has three parallel ridges. Sei whales lack the asymmetrical white lower jaw found in fin whales, assisting in identification at close range.

Upon surfacing, the back of the sei whale is usually visible on the surface for a relatively long time. They usually travel alone or in small groups, but more may be seen in areas where food is plentiful. They are known to breed with fin whales, producing at least first generation young. Sei whales are found in nearly all waters of the world, including polar regions where they feed in the summer.

The sei whale does not gulp-feed like other whales in its family and while swimming, the dorsal fin and backstays visible longer. In the Azores, they are encountered during the spring months on a fairly regular basis, as they complete their northerly migration.

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