Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Of the three populations of humpbacks in the North Pacific, the California, Oregon, and Washington Stock has approximately 1,250 whales. These animals winter in Central America or Mexico in coastal waters and spend their summers in nutrient rich waters of California up to British Columbia. At maturity humpbacks are about 60ft. in length, with the females being larger than the males. These dark gray baleen whales can be identified by their coloration patterns on the underside of their flukes; each tail fin is like a fingerprint, different on every whale. If you happen to see their pectoral fins, they are often white in color and have a rugged edge, often covered with barnacles. However, the size of the pectoral fins are the longest of any whale and can be approximately 1/4 of the body length.

To report a dead, injured or stranded marine mammal, please call:  1-800-853-1964