Get ready, gang – it’s time to meet one of the world’s most famous sea creatures, the humpback whale! Learn about their songs, diet and more with these humpback whale facts…

Fast Facts
Type: Mammal
Diet: Omnivore
Size: 48 to 62.5 ft (14.6 to 19 m)
Weight: 40 tons (36 metric tons)
Group name: Pod
Protection status: Least Concern

A humpback whale leaps from the ocean's surface!
A humpback whale leaps from the ocean’s surface!

Humpbacks are known for singing loud, complex “songs” – lasting up to 30 minutes long! The sounds they make are the most varied in the animal kingdom, ranging from high-pitched squeals and whistles to low, rumbling gurgles. Only males “sing” and experts think they do it to attract females or to let other males know they’re in the area.

If you love this article, you'll love our Ocean Activity and Colouring Book is written on the post, which shows a book called Ocean Activity and Colouring Book, as well as a blue jellyfish

These whales are found near coastlines, feeding on tiny, shrimplike krill, plankton and small fish. Humpbacks migrate annually from summer feeding grounds near the poles to warmer winter breeding waters closer to the Equator.

ADVERTISEMENT
humpback whales facts
A humpback whale’s tail (or fluke) rises from the water

Mothers and their young swim close together, often touching one another with their flippers with what appear to be gestures of affection. Females nurse their calves for almost a year, though it takes far longer than that for a humpback whale to reach full adulthood. Calves do not stop growing until they are ten years old.

You'll love our educational magazines for all ages! is written on the post, which shows a book called Oceans Find It! Explore it! which has a clownfish on the front

Humpbacks are powerful swimmers, and they use their massive tail fin, called a fluke, to propel themselves through the water and sometimes completely out of it. These whales, like others, regularly “breach“. This is when the whales leap from the water before landing with a tremendous splash. Scientists aren’t sure if this breaching behaviour serves some purpose, such as cleaning pests from the whale’s skin, or whether whales simply do it for fun!

What do you think of these humpback whale facts? Let us know in the comments!

Images ⓒ Getty Images: Humpback Whale Close-up, Sue Flood. Humpack whale breaching, (83398407) . Humpback whale tail, (139552103) 
Likes

LEAVE A COMMENT

THANK YOU

Your comment will be checked and approved shortly.

WELL DONE,
YOUR COMMENT
HAS BEEN ADDED!

COMMENTS

  • Marcus

    This helped a lot in my school project! Thank you!

  • Savannah

    they are so cool to learn about!!

  • Olivia

    That was really cool!

  • Printemps

    They are large

  • Asmara

    They are very important for the environment

  • Essie

    Whales are terrific!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Essie

    Whales are terrific!

  • Abbeygail

    I like whals I think they are cool

  • Sean

    These are some pretty good facts!

  • Max

    I had no idea that humpback whales could sing songs lasting 30 minutes

  • Sophie

    They are so big and cool

  • sumathi.lingom

    this is interesting and helpful for the same time. I can these facts to do my project and at the same time I can get to know about the humpback whales. I'm excited learn more!!!!!!!!

  • They're so cool! Once I saw some with twins!

  • They are very Big!

  • lyra

    I think this is so good

  • Breaze

    It is sooo intresting you are soo powerful

  • Jenny

    COOL

  • emily

    wow i never knew that

  • calvin

    you help a lot and I know a lot about hump back whales

  • Haiden

    Really good infos

  • chicken nugget

    whales are awesome

  • leslie

    i like it for my project

  • Aylah

    Amazing infomtion

  • Emma Batten

    I love national geographic

  • claire10530

  • thank you

  • grace41075

    awsome I really enjoyed this

  • Hi

  • zekeocs30

    wow

  • nice

  • lela

    cool

  • hi

  • Esther

    Great!

  • Brianna <3

    I find it so fascinating that there are so many beautiful creatures in the oceans and so many more still to be discovered.

  • Holly

    I love it

  • Billybobjoebob

    I like whales ;P

  • so cool

  • noellemayer

    thank you

  • Sandy

    LOL Amazing Awesome So AMAZING I couldn’t breathe

  • MAT13316

    it's very helpful for school work

  • Riduvarshini

    Good but you need to give simple informations

  • Daniel Roberts

    Very knowledgeable and interesting