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All About Whale Song & Other Whale Facts

Aerial view of whales swimming in clear blue ocean water.

Every year, over 8,000 humpback whales make their incredible journey from Alaska to the warm Hawaiian waters, creating one of nature’s most spectacular displays. These magnificent marine mammals are not only awe-inspiring to watch but also produce one of the most haunting and beautiful sounds in the animal kingdom, the humpback whale song.

And while their vocals may be the most famous thing about them, there’s so much more to discover. From remarkable anatomy to surprising behaviors, humpbacks and their whale relatives have countless traits that make them truly unique.

 

Whale breaching the ocean surface with coastline in the background.

The Magic of the Humpback Song

For hundreds of miles, humpback whales send multi-tonal moans and melodies drifting beneath the ocean’s surface. Their songs are haunting, beautiful, and complex: long chains of howls, cries, moans, and sharp calls woven together in a way that stuns scientists and listeners alike. A single performance can last 10–20 minutes and be repeated continuously for hours. Some males even sing for more than 24 hours straight.

Who Sings — and How?

Both male and female humpbacks make various sounds, but only male humpbacks produce the long, elaborate sequences we call “whale songs.” Surprisingly, humpbacks have no vocal cords, so they generate sound by forcing air through their nasal cavities.

Regional Dialects & Evolving Music

Remarkably, humpback whale songs vary by population, almost like regional dialects. Humpbacks in the North Atlantic sing one song, while those in the North Pacific have an entirely different repertoire. Even more fascinating, theme changes are made in unison by all members of a given group—how they coordinate this remains one of the great mysteries of the animal kingdom.

How Far Can Whale Songs Travel?

Some of the lowest-frequency notes in humpback songs can travel up to 10,000 miles through the ocean without losing energy. Most of their sounds range from 30 Hz to 8,000 Hz, though many of the lowest frequencies fall below the human hearing threshold.

On our Body Glove whale watching tours, guests can listen to these songs, along with dolphin clicks and whistles, through our onboard underwater microphone.

Why Do Humpbacks Sing?

Scientists have many theories but no definitive answer. The strongest evidence suggests the songs are connected to mating, most commonly heard during breeding season. Other possibilities include:

  • Challenging rival males
  • Attracting females
  • Coordinating movement or navigation
  • Social communication
  • A role in feeding strategies (similar to how dolphins herd fish with sound)

Whatever the purpose, humpback whale songs remain one of nature’s most captivating mysteries.

A humpback whale swimming underwater in clear blue ocean.

Amazing Whale Facts You May Not Know

Fact #1: The Largest Whale Weighs More Than 13 Times the Heaviest Land Mammal

Humpback whales are among the largest animals on the planet—about as long as a school bus. The average humpback weighs between 23-30 tons. To put whale size in perspective, blue whales—the largest whale species—dwarf even elephants. The largest elephant in recorded history weighed 24,000 pounds, while a male blue whale can weigh up to 330,000 pounds. A newborn blue whale weighs around 6,000 pounds and gains 200 pounds per day.

Fact #2: A Whale’s Age Can Be Determined by Its Earwax

Just as tree rings reveal a tree’s age, whale earwax layers can determine a whale’s age. Scientists count the layers of earwax found in deceased whales’ ear canals to establish their age. Biologists at Baylor University in Texas have also used this method to determine the types of pollutants whales are exposed to throughout their lives.

Close-up of a gray whale surfacing with open mouth in ocean water.

Fact #3: Not All Whales Have Teeth

Out of the eighty-four whale species, each falls into one of two categories: baleen whales or toothed whales. Toothed whales have teeth to tear meat and capture food. Dolphins (including orcas) are the largest group of toothed cetacean mammals, and the sperm whale (cachalot) is the largest toothed whale species.

Baleen whales, including humpbacks and blue whales, have no teeth. Instead, they have a filter system built into their mouths that separates water from food through a process called “filter feeding.”

Fact #4: Whales Talk to Each Other

Humpback whales are the most famous ocean communicators, using songs, grunts, groans, barks, and moans to “talk” to one another. These sounds can signal social behaviors, coordinate group feeding, or, in the case of songs, play a role in mating.

Their communication abilities are so advanced that researchers continue discovering new patterns and meanings each year.

Underwater view of a large whale with a smaller whale swimming next to it.

Fact #5: Whales Rest One Half of Their Brain at a Time

As marine mammals with lungs, whales must come to the surface for air and therefore can’t sleep the way humans do. Instead, they rest one hemisphere of the brain at a time — a behavior known as unihemispheric slow-wave sleep.

Baby whales, or calves, often sleep while being pulled along in their mother’s slipstream, conserving energy and staying safe.

Fact #6: Whales Have Only One Major Predator

Once hunted nearly to extinction in the early 1900s, humpback whales have made a remarkable recovery thanks to worldwide protection efforts. They were recently removed from the Endangered Species list, though they remain classified as Threatened in the Central American and Western North Pacific regions.

Despite their size, whales have only one significant predator: humans. The biggest dangers they face today include:

  • Commercial hunting
  • Ocean pollution and marine debris
  • Noise pollution that disrupts communication
  • Ship strikes and habitat disturbance

While many populations are still rebuilding, conservation efforts continue to focus on cleaner oceans, protected migration routes, and a healthier climate for these magnificent creatures.

Experience Humpback Whales in Hawaii

Hawaii’s warm, protected waters create an ideal environment for humpback whales, giving visitors an exceptional chance to witness these giants in the wild.

With Body Glove Cruises, you can enjoy a guided whale watching tour that blends education and adventure, giving you a closer look at these remarkable animals and the sounds they’re known for.

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