North Pacific humpback whales, a mother and calf pair swim closely together just under the surface of the ocean. The calf will remain with its mother for about a year, migrating from Hawaii to Alaska to feed on herring. Megaptera novaeangliae, Molokai, Hawaii.
Humpback whale breaching, near Molokai, Hawaii. Megaptera novaeangliae. It is suspected the breaching often has a communicative purpose which depends on the behavioral context of the moment.
Humpback whale breaching with pectoral fins lifting spray from the ocean surface.
Humpback whale lunge feeding on Antarctic krill, with mouth open and baleen visible. The humbpack's throat grooves are seen as its pleated throat becomes fully distended as the whale fills its mouth with krill and water. The water will be pushed out, while the baleen strains and retains the small krill.
Humpback whale waterfall, Megaptera novaeangliae, Channel Islands, California.
A peduncle throw, or tail lob, this humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) uses its long pectoral fins as levers to swing its fluke and caudal stem out of the water, flinging water everywhere.
North Pacific humpback whale, escort in competitive group makes fast close pass.
Adult male humpback whale bubble streaming underwater. The male escort humpback whale seen here is emitting a curtain of bubbles as it swims behind a mother and calf. The bubble curtain may be meant as warning or visual obstruction to other nearby male whales interested in the mother.
North Pacific humpback whale showing extensive scarring, almost certainly from a boat propeller, on dorsal ridge. This female North Pacific humpback whale was first seen with the depicted lacerations near the island of Maui in the Hawaiian Islands in the mid-90s, and is the original humpback to bear the name 'Blade Runner'. This female has apparently recovered, as evidenced the calf she was observed nurturing. A South Pacific humpback whale endured a similar injury in Sydney Australia in 2001, and bears a remarkably similar scar pattern to the above-pictured whale.
Adult male humpback whale bubble streaming underwater. The male escort humpback whale seen here is emitting a curtain of bubbles as it swims behind a female (left) during a competitive group. The bubble curtain may be meant as warning or visual obstruction to other male whales interested in the mother.
Humpback whale mother, calf (top), male escort (rear), underwater. A young humpback calf typically swims alongside or above its mother, and male escorts will usually travel behind the mother.
Humpback whale breaching near whale watching boat
North Pacific humpback whale, peduncle throw.
Humpback whale breaching, pectoral fin and rostrom visible.
Adult male humpback whale bubble streaming underwater. The male escort humpback whale seen here is emitting a curtain of bubbles as it swims behind a mother and calf. The bubble curtain may be meant as warning or visual obstruction to other nearby male whales interested in the mother.
North Pacific humpback whales, part of a larger competitive group of humpbacks.
A humpback whale raises it fluke out of the water, the coast of Del Mar and La Jolla is visible in the distance.
Humpback whale competitive group, underwater, swimming quickly and one trailing a stream of bubbles.
Adult male humpback whale singing, suspended motionless underwater. Only male humpbacks have been observed singing. All humpbacks in the North Pacific sing the same whale song each year, and the song changes slightly from one year to the next.
North Pacific humpback whale, peduncle throw.
Southern humpback whale in Antarctica, with significant diatomaceous growth (brown) on the underside of its fluke, lifting its fluke before diving in Neko Harbor, Antarctica.
Humpback whale lunge feeding on Antarctic krill, Antarctic Peninsula.
North Pacific humpback whales, socializing trio of adults.
North Pacific humpback whales, a mother and young calf swim near scientific research divers. Megaptera novaeangliae.
Humpback whale competitive group, several adult male escort whales swimming closely together as part of a larger competitive group.
Humpback whale in Antarctica. A humpback whale swims through the beautiful ice-filled waters of Neko Harbor, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.
Humpback whale competitive group, several adult male escort whales swimming closely together as part of a larger competitive group.
North Pacific humpback whale raising its fluke before diving underwater to forage for herring in southeast Alaska.
Humpback whale male escort emits a stream of bubbles during competitive group socializing. The whale is swimming so fast that the bubbles pass back alongside the whale.
Humpback whale breaching.
Hawaiian humpback whale underwater, sun beams dappling the whale in clear oceanic waters.
Humpback whale, abandoned calf alongside University of Hawaii research boat. This young calf lived only a few days after being abandoned or separated from its mother, and was eventually attacked by tiger sharks.
Male North Pacific humpback whale streams a trail of bubbles. The primary male escort whale (center) creates a curtain of bubbles underwater as it swims behind a female (right), with other challenging males trailing behind in a competitive group. The bubbles may be a form of intimidation from the primary escort towards the challenging escorts.
Large competitive group of humpback whales, eleven adult humpback whales seen in this image, part of a 16 whale competitive group.
North Pacific humpback whale, head standing near surface.
Adult male north Pacific humpback whale bubble streaming underwater in the midst of a competitive group. The male escort humpback whale seen here is emitting a curtain of bubbles as it swims closely behind a female, . The bubble curtain may be meant as warning or visual obstruction to other nearby males interested in the female.
Primary escort male humpback whale bubble streaming during competitive group socializing. This primary escort is swimming behind a female. The bubble curtain may be a form of intimidation towards other male escorts that are interested in the female.
North Pacific humpback whale, adult male with bloody head nodules wounded from colliding with other escorts during competitive interactions.
Southern humpback whale in Antarctica, lifting its fluke (tail) before diving in Cierva Cove, Antarctica.
Male humpback whale with head raised out of the water, braking and pushing back at another whale by using pectoral fins spread in a ""crucifix block"", during surface active social behaviours.
North Pacific humpback whales, competitive group.
Humpback whale with one of its long pectoral fins raised aloft out of the water, swimming on its side (laterally) as it does so.
Humpback whale holding fluke (tail) aloft out of the water.
Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) blowhole, showing twin nares (nostrils) which have small parasites clinging to the skin around the blowhole openings. Channel Islands, California.
Humpback whale fluke ID photograph, the white patches and scalloping along the trailing edge of the fluke make this whale identifiable in capture/recapture studies. Channel Islands, California.
Extensive fluke scarring on humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) makes this fluke ID photograph valuable for researchers capture/recapture study.
Humpback whale in Antarctica. A humpback whale swims through the beautiful ice-filled waters of Neko Harbor, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.
Humpback whale competitive group, several adult male escort whales swimming closely together as part of a larger competitive group.
Humpback whales at the surface, resting and breathing between dives, with West Maui volcano and clouds. Megaptera novaeangliae.
Male humpback whale with head raised out of the water, braking and pushing back at another whale by using pectoral fins spread in a ""crucifix block"", during surface active social behaviours.
Humpback whale swimming with raised pectoral fin (ventral aspect).
North Pacific humpback whale underwater
Humpback whale surface active group including head lunge and two fluke swipes, whale watching boat.
Humpback whale competitive group, surfacing and blowing.
Humpback whale holding fluke (tail) aloft out of the water.
Whale Watching, Maui, Hawaii
Humpback whale raising its fluke (tail) prior to a dive.
Humpback whale raising its fluke (tail) prior to a dive.
Humpback whale fluking up, raising tail before diving.
North Pacific humpback whale at the surface with open mouth and inflated throat, in front of whale watching boat.
Humpback whale swimming with raised pectoral fin (dorsal aspect).
Humpback whale swimming inverted with both pectoral fin raised clear of the water.
Humpback whale performing a peduncle throw.
Humpback whale performing a peduncle throw at the surface, swinging its fluke (tail) sideways and flinging water all over.
Humpback whale performing a head slap.
North Pacific humpback whales, competitive group exhaling at the surface.
Humpback whale performing a peduncle throw at the surface, swinging its fluke (tail) sideways and flinging water all over.
North Pacific humpback whale rounds out near observers.
Humpback whale fluking up, ventral aspect of fluke visible.
Humpback whale lunging clear of the water and falling forward with pectoral fins extended, a behavior known as a head slap.
Humpback whale raising its fluke (tail) prior to a dive.
Humpback whale performing a peduncle throw at the surface, swinging its fluke (tail) sideways and flinging water all over.
Humpback whale raising its fluke (tail) prior to a dive.
Humpback whale raising fluke (tail) out of the water before making a dive.
Humpback whale performing a peduncle throw at the surface, swinging its fluke (tail) sideways and flinging water all over.
Humpback whale calf breaching.
Humpback whale lunging out of the water at it reaches the surface, exhaling in a burst of bubbles.
Humpback whale swimming with raised pectoral fin (dorsal aspect).