Habits
The humpback whale may be found in all the oceans of the world at certain times of year. There are three main population: one in the Northern Atlantic, one in the North Pacific, and one in the southern oceans. These populations are divided into seperate "stocks". The humpback breeds in warm coastal waters. It spends the rest of the year in colder regions. Migration between the two areas follows set routes, and there is little mixing between different stocks. One of the longest migrations is undertaken by Antarctic whales. They swim 4,000 miles north and breed in the Gulf of Panama. Humpbacks are often seen in clusters, usually with a female and her calf at the breeding area. These clusters may be males vying for the female's attention and acting as escorts. Threat displays of the humpback include blowing a screen of bubbles, lashing the tail sideways through the water, and crashing the tail on the waters surface. The whale often spy-hops (raises its head vertically above the waves) or breaches (leaps out of the water to return tiwth a tremendous splash). It may also lie belly up or with its flippers in the air.
Food and Feeding
The humpback whale spends spring, summer, and fall in its polar feeding areas. IN the Southern Hemisphere it feeds mainly on krill. In the north it eats capelin and shoal fish. When food is plentiful near the surface, the whale lunges toward it with its jaws open, taking in a mouthful of water and prey. Grooves under it's jaw allow it to enlarge its mouth cavity for this purpose. The whale strains the water through it's baleen plates, leaving the prey inside. The humback uses various methods to trap prey. Tail slapping and breaching may startle fish. Rising bubbles or "nets" of air from whales that are deep underwater can confuse and enclse prey.
Did you know?
Scientists did not record the humpback whale's complex song until 1969. Recordings of the song have been sent into space on the Voyager probes.
The humpback usually swims at 2 to 9 miles per hour, but it can reach 17 miles per hour.
The humpback whale sometimes makes threat displays against boats, especially when they are on its breeding grounds.
An average humpback needs over a ton of food per day, containing more that one million calories.
Scars from the teeth of killer whales are often seen on humpbacks, especially on the tail. But it is unlikely that these predators could kill a healthy adult humpback whale.
The humpback dives deep to feed - even to the sea bead 650 feet down. It has been known to stay under for 30 minutes.
Distribution
The humpback whale frequents cold and polar seas for most of the year and subtropical and tropical seas in winter. A few populations live year-round in the tropics.
Size
Length: 42-45 feet, up to 52 feet.
Weight: Up to 72 tons.
Lifestyle
Habit: Social and migratory.
Call: Complex songs lasting 6-35 minutes and other sporadic sounds. Frequencies from 40-50 kHz.
Lifespan: Up to 50 years.
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