Fast Facts
Type: Mammal
Diet: Omnivore
Size: 48 to 62.5 ft (14.6 to 19 m)
Weight: 40 tons (36 metric tons)
Group name: Pod
Protection status: Least Concern

A humpback whale leaps from the ocean's surface!
A humpback whale leaps from the ocean’s surface!

Humpbacks are known for singing loud, complex “songs” – lasting up to 30 minutes long! The sounds they make are the most varied in the animal kingdom, ranging from high-pitched squeals and whistles to low, rumbling gurgles. Only males “sing” and experts think they do it to attract females or to let other males know they’re in the area.

humpback whales facts
A close-up snap of a humpback whale

Humpback whales are known for their magical songs, which travel for great distances through the world’s oceans. These sequences of moans, howls, cries, and other noises are quite complex and often continue for hours on end. Scientists are studying these sounds to decipher their meaning. It is most likely that humpbacks sing to communicate with others and to attract potential mates.

These whales are found near coastlines, feeding on tiny shrimp-like krill, plankton and small fish. Humpbacks migrate annually from summer feeding grounds near the poles to warmer winter breeding waters closer to the Equator.

Mothers and their young swim close together, often touching one another with their flippers with what appear to be gestures of affection. Females nurse their calves for almost a year, though it takes far longer than that for a humpback whale to reach full adulthood. Calves do not stop growing until they are ten years old.

humpback whales facts
A humpback whale’s tail (or fluke) rises from the water

Humpbacks are powerful swimmers, and they use their massive tail fin, called a fluke, to propel themselves through the water and sometimes completely out of it. These whales, like others, regularly “breach”. This is when the whales leap from the water before landing with a tremendous splash. Scientists aren’t sure if this breaching behavior serves some purpose, such as cleaning pests from the whale’s skin, or whether whales simply do it for fun!

Images ⓒ Getty Images: Humpback Whale Close-up, Sue Flood. Humpack whale breaching, (83398407) . Humpback whale tail, (139552103) 
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COMMENTS

  • Emma Batten

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    a type of whale should be called awesomeness

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    My great-grandad once got swallowed by a humpback whale and he lived to tell the tale! #dejavuorwhat! I dunno if he was kidding though :))

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    i like you comics

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    Cool work hey heres a fact you havent got . Their breeding songs last up to 30 minutes to attract a female or mate by whistling.

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    Whales are such incredible mammals! This really made my day, Thanks a Bunch, Sally and peeps xxx

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    epic

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    there are so much good facts about dolphins;)

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    Pretty fascinating arent they mate?

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    good

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    good

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    I think that whales are very harmless

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    I love whales!

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    I liked the whale song.It has SPLASHED my day.

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    I liked the whale song.It has SPLOSHED my day.

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    Its incredible that there are such amazing creatures in the ocean! Theyre beautiful!

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    Cool , I have just read the bottlenose dolophin

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    This my favourite bit of my mag I would rate it As 100 out of 100 Thank you for writing this mag and giving it too children From Lola

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