Humpback Whale Behavior
This section is under serious construction
Click on the behavior to go to its own page, but please read these introductory remarks first!
Crusing & Spouting Logging Diving Side Fluke Backstroke Barrel Roll Pectoral Slaps Headstand Tail Slap Peduncle Slap Breaching
Crusing & Spouting Logging Diving Side Fluke Backstroke Barrel Roll Pectoral Slaps Headstand Tail Slap Peduncle Slap Breaching
Even the most casual observation of humpback whales leads to questions about their behavior. On every water trip I get asked “why do they do that?” The answer to this seemingly simple question comes with great difficulty and I couch my responses with uncertainty. Most of what I “know” comes from my accumulated observations supplemented with what I read. I try mightily not to anthropomorphize, that is, ascribe human attributes—especially behavior—to other animals, based largely upon my experience with human behavior. These animals are not humans and to ascribe human attributes is at best naive and at worst a great disservice to a very intelligent animal. I’ve done a great deal of research on humpback whale behavior and have come to the conclusion that most of what we “know” is little more than speculation (forming an idea, conjecture, or theory without firm evidence). The vast majority of references I’ve found simply describe, illustrate and name the behavior. In what follows, I attempt to go a bit beyond that and give some detail of my own observations with specific research I’ve been able to find for that behavior.
The single best reference I use is notable for how well it distinguishes what we know based upon evidence from what we would like to know, and gives great emphasis on the vast amount that we should learn about these magnificent creatures. It doesn’t hurt that most of the photographs were taken by my friend Flip Nicklin.
Darling, J. 2009. Humpbacks: unveiling the mysteries. Granville Island Publishing, Ltd., Vancouver, BC.
The Pacific Whale Foundation of Maui, Hawai‘i, gives this caveat as a preface to illustrating humpback behavior:
“The following behaviors, most visible from boats and shoreline lookouts, are high energy activities that may serve a number of social functions. They must be interpreted in the full context of the season and location in which they occur to understand their significance and purpose.”
Much of what we “know” about humpback whale behavior comes from research in Hawai‘i. Large numbers of whales congregate there, especially off the island of Māui, from November through March. Mating and calving of both North Pacific and South Pacific populations occurs in Hawai‘ian waters. The tropical water there is clear enough to allow extensive observation and filming of underwater behavior. Yet with decades of observation and filming, the act of copulation has never been observed, let alone filmed. It seems these animals value their privacy!
Our Alaskan waters are so close to opaque from the incredible plankton bloom that observing underwater behavior is virtually impossible. I am limited to what I see near the surface, at the surface and above the surface. This is but a tiny fraction of the behavior these magnificent mammals exhibit; I just can’t see what they do under water. Take all of what follows with the severe caveat (a warning of limitations) that even sources of information that many consider reputable are not based upon “hard” (evidence-based) science. The depth of our ignorance of these animals is immense and much of what we “know” we don’t.
I have found little agreement on the classification and naming of humpback whale behavior. What follows is based upon my own observations with the terms I use along with other descriptive words used by many sources. Pick the one you like!
The single best reference I use is notable for how well it distinguishes what we know based upon evidence from what we would like to know, and gives great emphasis on the vast amount that we should learn about these magnificent creatures. It doesn’t hurt that most of the photographs were taken by my friend Flip Nicklin.
Darling, J. 2009. Humpbacks: unveiling the mysteries. Granville Island Publishing, Ltd., Vancouver, BC.
The Pacific Whale Foundation of Maui, Hawai‘i, gives this caveat as a preface to illustrating humpback behavior:
“The following behaviors, most visible from boats and shoreline lookouts, are high energy activities that may serve a number of social functions. They must be interpreted in the full context of the season and location in which they occur to understand their significance and purpose.”
Much of what we “know” about humpback whale behavior comes from research in Hawai‘i. Large numbers of whales congregate there, especially off the island of Māui, from November through March. Mating and calving of both North Pacific and South Pacific populations occurs in Hawai‘ian waters. The tropical water there is clear enough to allow extensive observation and filming of underwater behavior. Yet with decades of observation and filming, the act of copulation has never been observed, let alone filmed. It seems these animals value their privacy!
Our Alaskan waters are so close to opaque from the incredible plankton bloom that observing underwater behavior is virtually impossible. I am limited to what I see near the surface, at the surface and above the surface. This is but a tiny fraction of the behavior these magnificent mammals exhibit; I just can’t see what they do under water. Take all of what follows with the severe caveat (a warning of limitations) that even sources of information that many consider reputable are not based upon “hard” (evidence-based) science. The depth of our ignorance of these animals is immense and much of what we “know” we don’t.
I have found little agreement on the classification and naming of humpback whale behavior. What follows is based upon my own observations with the terms I use along with other descriptive words used by many sources. Pick the one you like!