What do humpback whales eat?

They feed mainly on krill and small fish and commonly use bubbles to help catch prey.

Where do humpback whales live and migrate?

They are found in oceans worldwide and typically migrate between polar feeding areas and tropical or subtropical breeding areas near the equator.

What are humpback whale songs?

Male humpbacks produce complex songs that typically last from about 4 to 33 minutes.

What threats do humpback whales face?

Major ongoing threats include entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes, and noise pollution; historically they were extensively hunted by whaling.

Who preys on humpback whales?

Orcas are reported as the main natural predators of humpback whales.

How large do humpback whales get?

Adults range from about 14–17 meters (46–56 feet) in length and can weigh up to around 40 metric tons.

Do humpback whales host other organisms?

Yes; their bodies commonly host barnacles and whale lice.

How did whaling affect humpback populations?

Commercial whaling reduced global numbers to roughly 5,000 by the 1960s; populations have partially recovered since then.

Where to See Humpback Whale While Diving

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a rorqual in the family Balaenopteridae and the sole species in the genus Megaptera. Adults typically measure 14–17 m (46–56 ft) and can weigh up to 40 metric tons. The species has a distinctive body shape with long pectoral fins and tubercles on the head. Humpbacks are known for surface behaviors such as breaching and for males’ complex songs. They occur in oceans and seas worldwide and typically migrate between higher-latitude feeding areas and lower-latitude breeding areas. Their diet consists mainly of krill and small fish, and they commonly use bubble-netting or bubbles to corral prey. Reproduction is polygynandrous; mothers give birth to calves in shallower water. Orcas are the main natural predators. Humpbacks commonly host barnacles and whale lice on their bodies. The species was heavily hunted by commercial whaling and declined to around 5,000 individuals by the 1960s; numbers have since partially recovered to an estimate of some 135,000 animals worldwide. Ongoing human-caused threats include entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with ships, and noise pollution.

The species was driven near-extinct by commercial whaling and has partially recovered; current human-caused impacts include entanglement in fishing gear, ship collisions, and noise pollution.

Humpbacks typically migrate seasonally between feeding areas at higher latitudes (toward the poles) and breeding areas in lower-latitude, near-equatorial waters.

The strongest linked planning options currently surface around destinations such as Los Cabos (Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo), Maui, Bahias de Huatulco and countries such as Ecuador, Costa Rica, Mexico for divers building trips around humpback whales.