Surface Behaviors
Surface behaviors range from low active behaviors such as logging to intermediate active behaviors such as spyhopping and traveling. |
Spout
A powerful surface exhalation that can be up to 20 feet high. |
Logging -
Humpback Whale
A possible resting state. The whales lie horizontally at the surface without swimming.
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Fluking Dive -
Humpback Whale
An arch of the back and raising of the flukes resulting in a dive.
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Close Boat Approach
A whale or group of whales orient to the vessel, curious of their surroundings.
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Spyhop -
Humpback Whale
A slow, vertical rise- head first- out of the water. |
Flippering -
Humpback Whale
On its side or back, the whale raises one or both flippers and slaps the water’s surface. |
Lobtailling -
Humpback Whale
Head down, belly up or down, the whale raises its tail and slaps it on the water. |
Chin Breach -
Humpback Whale
A jump, head first. The whale slaps its lower jaw and ventral surface on the water. |
Tail Breach -
Humpback Whale
A jump, tail first, out of the water. The whale generally lands on its side. |
Spinning Head Breach -
Humpback Whale
A jump, head first. Flippers extend and the whale spins until landing on the water’s surface with a large splash. |
Breach -
Minke Whale |
Kick Feeding -
Humpback Whales
The whale creates turbulence at the surface by slapping the water with its tail or head. Associated with feeding behavior. |
Bubble Cloud -
Humpback Whale
The whale exhales underwater releasing a cloud of small bubbles that may entrap schooling fish or cause them to clump. Associated with feeding behavior. |
Bubble Net -
Humpback Whale
A precise, circular net of bubbles blown underwater that may entrap schooling fish or cause them to clump. |
Lunge Feeding -
Humpback Whale
Fast, horizontal surfacing, mouth open. Associated with feeding behavior. |
Open Mouth -
Humpback Whale
Surface feeding, through a bubble cloud or net with mouth open and ventral pleats expanded. |
Dragging -
Humpback Whale
After engulfing food and water, the whale swims at the surface, tail down, body bowed in snake-like posture, slowly expelling water through its baleen plates. |
Side Lunge -
Finback Whale
On its side, the finback whale bursts through the water, mouth open, engulfing water and prey. Associated with feeding behavior. |
Humpback
Calf
Behaviors
Calves tend to spend more time at the surface and display more surface behaviors. This could be play or learning. |
More Humpback
Calf Behaviors |
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Research 
