Humpback Whale

Humpback whales are enormous sea creatures that love to sing! They are called humpbacks because of the big hump on their back, right before their tail fin. These whales have super long flippers, like giant arms, that can be as long as a car! They are playful and often leap out of the water, which is called breaching. It’s like they’re giving the ocean a big hug!

Humpback whales are travelers! They spend their summers in cooler waters, like near Alaska or the Arctic, where they eat lots of yummy fish and tiny shrimp called krill. Then, when winter comes, they swim to warmer places, like Hawaii or the Caribbean, to have their babies. They can be found in oceans all around the world, from the cold north to the warm south.

Humpback whales are not picky eaters! They love to gobble up small fish like herring and menhaden, and they also eat krill, which are tiny, shrimp-like creatures. They have a special way of eating called bubble-net feeding.

They swim in circles, blowing bubbles that trap the fish, and then they swim up through the middle with their mouths wide open to catch their meal. It’s like a bubble party for dinner!

Humpback whales are famous for their songs. The males sing long, complicated songs that can last for many minutes and repeat for hours. Scientists think they sing to talk to each other or maybe to find a mate. These whales are also incredible swimmers, traveling thousands of miles every year between their feeding and breeding grounds. They are truly amazing ocean explorers!