Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae
Mammalia > Artiodactyla > Cetacea > Balaenopteridae
Names in different Languages
| German | Buckelwal |
| English | Humpback Whale |
| French | Baleine à Bosse |
| Spanish | Gubarta |
Description
The humpback whale is a species found in all oceans, migrating up to 25'000 km each year. Humpbacks feed in polar waters and mate and give birth in tropical and subtropical waters.
How to Identify
If lucky, I see them breaching the water surface and with a glimpse on their long, uniquely shaped, thin pectoral fins they are easy to identify. Also, the way how they jump and fall back is a good clue. If they surface only to breath, the small dorsal fins and the characteristic display of the tail fin are hints.
Where When to Spot
I saw them on a boat trip near Tadoussac in the middle of Saint Lawrence River, and frequently from the beach along the coast near St. John's, NL where they can get pretty close to the beach.
Photos
Videos
Observations
| 2021-08-25 | Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park |
| 2021-08-23 | Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park |
| 2021-08-18 | Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park |
| 2017-08-19 | Cape Spear |
| 2017-08-12 | Quidi Vidi Harbour |
| 2013-08-19 | Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park |