Humpback whales are enormous mammals, measuring around 40-60 feet in length and weighing approximately 35-40 tonnes. Despite their great size, however, they are very acrobatic and easily identifiable due to their penchant for breaching the water and landing with an enormous splash, ‘waving’ their huge tail fins as they re-enter the water. It’s unclear if they do this to clean themselves or simply for fun. Either way, it’s an incredible sight to behold!

The plaintive whale songs of the humpback, for which they are well known, are haunting and magical, with their complex sequence of melodies travelling for miles upon miles through the ocean. Although we have much to learn about the meaning of these songs, scientists believe they are connected to mating rituals and the way in which the whales communicate with one another.

The humpback whale is a baleen whale. They are black on the dorsal (upper) side, with mottled black and white colouring on the ventral (under) side. They have teeth like little bristles and have to swallow their food whole, so they tend to favour smaller prey, such as plankton, shrimp-like krill, mackerel, and salmon. This diet is one of the factors that dictate where you will find the humpback whale.