[Return to Whalewatching Main Page] Whalewatching Behaviors   Photo: Suzanne Canja Blow or Spout While a whale is holding its breath, air is compressed in its chest. Upon reaching the surface, the air is exhaled through the whale's blowholes. The exhaled air expands, causing the temperature to decrease, thereby condensing into water vapor. This puff of white vapor is quite visible and can often reach heights of 20 feet. In concert with the blow is the sound of rushing air that can be heard up to 800 feet away. The blow of a humpback whale is unique to each animal and a great way to distinguish between types of whales. On average, adult humpback whales take a breath every ten to fifteen minutes, but can remain submerged for as long as forty-five minutes. Calves must rise to the surface every three to five minutes to breathe. Photo: Suzanne Canja Round Out or Peduncle Arch When preparing for a deep dive, humpbacks will arch their back and raise their tail flukes above the water. It is this pronounced arching of the back that has earned the humpback whale its common name. Photo: Joe Mobley Pec Slap The humpback's pectoral fin is longer than that of all other species of whales, measuring one-third the whale's body length, or approximately twelve to fifteen feet. Humpbacks will often roll onto their side or back and slowly slap the water's surface with one fin or both fins simultaneously. The slapping of fins may serve as a communication signal to other whales.     Photo: Joe Mobley Head Rise or Spy Hop A whale slowly rises vertically toward the surface, poking its head out of the water to just below its eyes. Some believe this behavior allows the humpback whale to get a better look at activity going on above the surface. Photo: Suzanne Canja Tail Slap A tail slap consists of a whale raising its tail flukes out of the water and slapping them forcefully on the surface of the water. When the flukes hit the water, a loud resonant noise can be heard for miles. Humpback whales are known to repeat this behavior over and over. This behavior may serve as a warning to others in the vicinity. Photo: Suzanne Canja Peduncle Slap or Lobtail An aggressive display where the humpback whale will thrash the surface of the water by whipping its upraised flukes from side to side. Humpbacks will slap the surface of the water as a warning signal to others or bash other whales during aggressive competition. Photo: Suzanne Canja Breach A powerful acrobatic display where the humpback uses its tail to launch itself out of the water. With just a few pumps of its tail, the humpback can propel its entire body into the air, landing back onto the surface with a resounding splash. The purpose of this spectacular behavior is still unclear. Some suggest it allows the whale to dislodge barnacles and other parasites from its body, serves as a form of communication, or maybe just a form of playful activity for the humpback.     [top] Revised by the HIHWNMS web team on November 18, 2002. URL: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/whalewatching/behaviors.html.