Following are a collection of photographs made by HWRF research associates during field work. These images illustrate some of the behaviors that humpback whales exhibit while in Hawaiian waters. Not all of these behaviors are commonly seen from a boat, however, since most of a humpback whale's life occurs out of sight, underwater. For this reason, our underwater images offer most whale watchers a special view into the humpback whale's world. Please note that copyright to all these images is reserved by Hawaii Whale Research Foundation. Click here to inquire about licensing (using) HWRF images. Humpback images were acquired under and used according to the provisions of NOAA Fisheries (NMFS) research permits 587 (current), 633 (past) and 882 (past) and associated State of Hawaii research permits.

Surface behaviors.

Spouting / Blowing.

Diving.

Fluke.

Spyhopping.

The fact that a SPYHOP is a relatively common behavior suggests that humpback whales are inquisitive, at least relative to other marine life. Spyhopping often occurs during a "mugging" situation, where the focus of a whale's attention is on a boat rather than on other nearby whales. Positioned vertically in the water with its rostrum up, the whale will rise and hold its position partially out of the water, often exposing its entire rostrum and head. This is not a maneuver to launch the whale out of the water quickly -- that would normally be referred to as a breach or head lunge. It is instead controlled and slow, and can last for minutes at a time if the whale is sufficiently inquisitive about whatever (or whomever) it is viewing. Generally, the whale does not appear to swim to maintain its "elevated" position while spyhopping, instead relying on exceptional buoyancy control and positioning with pectoral fins. Typically the whale's eyes will be slightly above or below the surface of the water, enabling it to see whatever is nearby on the surface, such as a boat full of whale watchers.

Breaching.

A BREACH is exciting, and is probably the most hoped-for behavior among whale watchers. Other whales species breach, some often, but none so dramatically as the humpback whale. Breach refers to the fact that the whale is breaching, or breaking through, the surface and into the air, out of its natural element. A full breach (above left) brings the humpback completely (or almost!) out of the water, with as little as just its flukes remaining submerged, while a partial breach (above right) is anything less than that, perhaps only half of the whale rising out of the water. Although many humpback behaviors involve a whale breaking the surface with some part of its body, only those instances where the whale exits the water vertically as if it were "leaping" from the water are typically called breaches.

The approach, or rise to the surface, precedes the breach. The whale gains speed underwater and swims toward the surface at full speed, straight up. Since the approach is underwater and not seen, a breach is usually unanticipated (except in certain situations, see below). Remarkably, only three or four pumps of its flukes are required to accelerate an adult humpback whale to full speed, and the approach may begin in water as shallow as 60 to 80 feet.

The whale shoots vertically out of the water as it takes its last fluke pump. Its rostrum can rise above the water almost as high as the whale is long, up to 45 feet. As it falls, the whale usually assumes a horizontal position so that it hits the water laid out flat. It may impact the water with its top, bottom or sides. There is a common misconception that a whale cannot breach onto its stomach, perhaps because it will rupture -- this is simply not true.

At some point the whale usually begins twisting, a corkscrew motion that may start underwater during its approach and continue in the air until it lands. The twisting motion causes the whale pectoral fins to be flung wide. Sometimes a series of breaches will be performed, by a whale that has just become active (after apparently resting), has just left a social group, or is excited or irritates. Usually the first breach in the series is the fullest, with breaches becoming successively "lazier". We have observed calves that performed repeated breaches, up to 50 or more in a row that, as the animal presumably grew tired, gradually came to appear more like spyhops or head lunges than full breaches.

We have even observed repeated breaches by a mother / calf / escort pod as a small group of sharks swam near.

Why? Breaching is often interpreted as a show of playfulness by a whale. Such an interpretation is likely incorrect and an example of anthropomorphism, where human characteristics are attributed to animals. In fact, while we do not know why a breach is performed, it may signal that the whale is anything but playful.

For years, Dr. Salden has closely observed breaching among socializing whales, paying close attention to the circumstances amid which the breaching occurs. Breaching can take place with solitary whales or whales in groups. With groups of whales, breaching often occurs when a humpback affiliates (joins) or disaffiliates. In addition to the possibility that whales are visually scanning their environment while breaching, Dr. Salden feels the breach has a communication function as well, an opinion shared by other researchers and formulated from years of anecdotal observations. An expert in nonverbal communication, Dr. Salden suspects breaching is the humpback's way of announcing "It is I!," with any surrounding activities forming a context in which the breach must be interpreted. It may be an aggressive signal from a whale joining a competitive group, saying "It is I, watch out!" or a parting shot from a disaffiliating whale ("Remember me!"). When accompanied by a breach, whatever the whale is communicating is "said" with emphasis.

Head slapping.

Head lunging.

Pectoral fin displays.

The PECTORAL FINS of the humpback whale are so distinctive they are reponsible for part of its scientific (latin) name, Megatera novaeangliae, meaning "long-winged New Englander." (Humpbacks were first seen by New World whalers in the New England.) Each up to 15 long, the pectoral fins are the longest of any whale both in absolute length and relative to their body length. Humpback pectoral fins are highly dextrous and flexible and have a skeletal structure remarkably similar to a human hand.

Many of the humpback's behaviors are facilitated by its exceptional maneuverability and body control, in which the pectoral fins play an important role. Humpback whales can perform tight turns, rolls and loops underwater using their pectoral fins like independent rudders. In competitive groups, a behavior that Dr. Salden has loosely termed the "crucifix block" is sometimes seen, in which one whale cuts in front of another and spreads its pectoral fins wide, quickly braking its forward motion and creating a 35-foot-wide barrier to its opponent, effectively shielding the competitor male from the female.

When a humpback is traveling at speed, its pectoral fins are often flat against its body for streamlining.

Fluke displays.

Peduncle throw.

In a PEDUNCLE THROW, the humpback converts its forward momentum into a crack-the-whip rotation, pivoting with its pectoral fins as it drives its head downward and thrusts its entire fluke and peduncle (the muscular rear portion of his torso) out of the water and sideways. Usually this behavior takes place among the focal animals (female, escort, challenging male) in a competitive group, with the peduncle throw directed from one animal toward another as an aggressive gesture. Occasionally, one whale in the group performs a series of peduncle throws, directed at the same animal each time. We have seen this occur with a female who seems agitated with the presence of an escort male, as well as with an escort who is trying to fend off a particular challenging male. We have also observed instances where a peduncle throw was almost certainly directed towards a boat, an indication that the whale was probably not comfortable with the boat's presence.

Underwater behaviours.

Mother / calf nurturing.

Escorts.

Bubble displays.

BUBBLE DISPLAYS most commonly occur in social groups and take at least the following forms:

Bubble curtains occur when a whale swims along emitting a steady stream of bubbles (lower left). Seen from above water, the curtain becomes a bubble trail sometimes reaching lengths of a hundred yards or more, and can be useful in locating whales that have been underwater for a while. Sometimes several competing males in a group will simultaneously create bubble curtains, perhaps to intimidate one another or "shield" a female from approach by a challenging male.

Bubble blasts usually occur just as a whale is surfacing. They may be both an attempt to intimidate a nearby competing whale and an early exhalation in a particularly strenuous competitive group. Bubble blasts often accompany a head lunge, where the whale surfaces at speed, exhaling hard and with sufficient momentum that it drives forward with rostrum and head partially out of the water Occasionally, singletons and inquisitive whales perform bubble displays in a non-agonistic situation as they swim near a boat or research divers (upper left).

Inquisitive whales.

Competitive groups.

Singing.