Fauna Flora Photography

Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus

Fin Whale is the second largest whale on Earth and a frequent visitor of Saint Lawrence River during summer. It is a fast swimmer and it likes to gather in groups for feeding.

Specs

Length21-26m
Weight33.5-52t

Common Names

GermanFinnwal
EnglishFin Whale
FrenchRorqual commun
SpanishRorcual común

Taxonomy

OrderArtiodactyla
SuborderCetacea
FamilyBalaenopteridae
SpeciesBalaenoptera physalus

How to Identify

The primary characteristic to identify this species is the form of the dorsal fin, with straight, not curved, anterior slope, the light grey color of the dorsal part, and the fact that this species doesn’t show the fluke when diving.

Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) - Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park - 2021-08-23
Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) - Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park - 2021-08-22

Where and When to Spot

This species can be observed during summer months (July, August and September) in Saguenay St Lawrence Marine Park.

Last updated on 2024-03-14. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.