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Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

The humpback whale is a species found in all oceans, migrating up to 25'000 km each year. Humpbacks feed in polar waters and mate and give birth in tropical and subtropical waters.

Parc marin du Saguenay-Saint-Laurent - 2021-08-25
Location: Parc marin du Saguenay-Saint-Laurent
Date: 2021-08-25
Camera: NIKON Z6
Lens: NIKKOR Z 70-200mm
Settings: f/20 • 1/2500 • ISO 2000
Focal Length: 135mm
Parc marin du Saguenay-Saint-Laurent - 2021-08-23
Location: Parc marin du Saguenay-Saint-Laurent
Date: 2021-08-23
Camera: NIKON Z6
Lens: NIKKOR Z 70-200mm
Settings: f/18 • 1/1250 • ISO 640
Focal Length: 200mm
Parc marin du Saguenay-Saint-Laurent - 2021-08-23
Location: Parc marin du Saguenay-Saint-Laurent
Date: 2021-08-23
Camera: NIKON Z6
Lens: NIKKOR Z 70-200mm
Settings: f/18 • 1/1250 • ISO 640
Focal Length: 200mm
Parc marin du Saguenay-Saint-Laurent - 2021-08-23
Location: Parc marin du Saguenay-Saint-Laurent
Date: 2021-08-23
Camera: NIKON Z6
Lens: NIKKOR Z 70-200mm
Settings: f/18 • 1/1250 • ISO 640
Focal Length: 200mm
Cape Spear - 2017-08-19
Location: Cape Spear
Date: 2017-08-19
Camera: NIKON D500
Lens: TAMRON 150-600mm
Settings: f6.3 • 1/1250 • ISO 360
Focal Length: 600mm
Cape Spear - 2017-08-19
Location: Cape Spear
Date: 2017-08-19
Camera: NIKON D500
Lens: TAMRON 150-600mm
Settings: f6.3 • 1/1250 • ISO 250
Focal Length: 600mm
Quidi Vidi Harbour - 2017-08-12
Location: Quidi Vidi Harbour
Date: 2017-08-12
Camera: NIKON D500
Lens: TAMRON 150-600mm
Settings: f6.3 • 1/1250 • ISO 200
Focal Length: 600mm
Quidi Vidi Harbour - 2017-08-12
Location: Quidi Vidi Harbour
Date: 2017-08-12
Camera: NIKON D500
Lens: TAMRON 150-600mm
Settings: f6.3 • 1/1250 • ISO 250
Focal Length: 600mm
Parc marin du Saguenay-Saint-Laurent - 2013-08-19
Location: Parc marin du Saguenay-Saint-Laurent
Date: 2013-08-19
Camera: Canon PowerShot
Lens: 4.3-215mm
Settings: f5.6 • 1/160 • ISO 100
Focal Length: 148mm
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Tap the image for exif data

Common Names

🇨🇦Humpback Whale
🇫🇷Baleine à Bosse
🇩🇪Buckelwal
🇲🇽Ballena jorobada, Ballena yubarta

Taxonomy

OrderArtiodactyla
InfraorderCetacea
FamilyBalaenopteridae

Characteristics

Length12-15m
Weight22.7-36.3t

Explore More

🎧 Apple Podcast: About this species' biology, behavior and ecological importance.

Identification and Whereabouts

If lucky, I see them breaching the water surface and with a glimpse on their long, uniquely shaped, thin pectoral fins they are easy to identify. Also, the way how they jump and fall back is a good clue. If they surface only to breath, the small dorsal fins and the characteristic display of the tail fin are hints.

Encounters

I saw them on a boat trip near Tadoussac in the middle of Saint Lawrence River, and frequently from the beach along the coast near St. John's, NL where they can get pretty close to the beach.

Location Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park - x - -

"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from my park visit journals.

Captured Moments

Videos are hosted on YouTube. Click on a thumbnail to watch it.

All content on this page — including photos, videos, and field audio recordings — was created by Karl-Heinz Müller, a Montréal-based wildlife filmmaker, sound recordist, and photographer. Founder of MUUUH and Québec Sauvage, he has spent over a decade documenting Canada’s natural habitats through immersive soundscapes and wildlife films. Learn more about Karl-Heinz

Last updated: 2024-12-21