Humpback Whales photos

Male North Pacific humpback whale streams a trail of bubbles. The primary male escort whale (center) creates a curtain of bubbles underwater as it swims behind a female (right), with other challenging males trailing behind in a competitive group. The bubbles may be a form of intimidation from the primary escort towards the challenging escorts.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 05968  

Humpback whale, abandoned calf alongside University of Hawaii research boat. This young calf lived only a few days after being abandoned or separated from its mother, and was eventually attacked by tiger sharks.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 05979  

Hawaiian humpback whale underwater, sun beams dappling the whale in clear oceanic waters.
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 06007  

Adult male north Pacific humpback whale bubble streaming underwater in the midst of a competitive group. The male escort humpback whale seen here is emitting a curtain of bubbles as it swims closely behind a female, . The bubble curtain may be meant as warning or visual obstruction to other nearby males interested in the female.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 06037  

North Pacific humpback whale raising its fluke before diving underwater to forage for herring in southeast Alaska.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 02154  

Humpback whale breaching.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 03855  

Primary escort male humpback whale bubble streaming during competitive group socializing. This primary escort is swimming behind a female. The bubble curtain may be a form of intimidation towards other male escorts that are interested in the female.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 04432  

North Pacific humpback whales, competitive group.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 06021  

Southern humpback whale in Antarctica, lifting its fluke (tail) before diving in Cierva Cove, Antarctica.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Cierva Cove, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica
Image ID: 25518  

Humpback whale holding fluke (tail) aloft out of the water.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 00171  

Humpback whale with one of its long pectoral fins raised aloft out of the water, swimming on its side (laterally) as it does so.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 01470  

North Pacific humpback whale, adult male with bloody head nodules wounded from colliding with other escorts during competitive interactions.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 02152  

Male humpback whale with head raised out of the water, braking and pushing back at another whale by using pectoral fins spread in a "crucifix block", during surface active social behaviours.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 04106  

Humpback whale in Antarctica. A humpback whale swims through the beautiful ice-filled waters of Neko Harbor, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Neko Harbor, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica
Image ID: 25651  

Scarring of this humpback whale's fluke allow researchers to identify this particular whale from season to season.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Santa Rosa Island, California
Image ID: 27027  

Perfect view of the ventral surface of a humpback whales fluke, as the whale raises its fluke just before diving underwater. The white patches and scalloping along the trailing edge of the fluke make this whale identifiable when it is observed from year to year.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Santa Rosa Island, California
Image ID: 27031  

Humpback whale blowhole, showing twin nares (nostrils) which have a few small parasites clinging to the whale's skin around the blowhole openings.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Santa Rosa Island, California
Image ID: 27041  

Humpback whale competitive group, several adult male escort whales swimming closely together as part of a larger competitive group.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 02861  

North Pacific humpback whale underwater.
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 05995  

Humpback whale holding fluke (tail) aloft out of the water.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 00170  

Humpback whales at the surface, volcano and clouds.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 00425  

Male humpback whale with head raised out of the water, braking and pushing back at another whale by using pectoral fins spread in a "crucifix block", during surface active social behaviours.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 04112  

Humpback whale swimming with raised pectoral fin (ventral aspect).
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 04135  

Humpback whale surface active group including head lunge and two fluke swipes, whale watching boat.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 04243  

Humpback whale competitive group, surfacing and blowing.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Molokai, Hawaii
Image ID: 04397  

Humpback whale performing a peduncle throw at the surface, swinging its fluke (tail) sideways and flinging water all over.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 00188  

Humpback whale performing a peduncle throw at the surface, swinging its fluke (tail) sideways and flinging water all over.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, San Diego, Hawaii
Image ID: 00336  

North Pacific humpback whale rounds out in front of whale watching boat.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 00347  

North Pacific humpback whale at the surface with open mouth and inflated throat, in front of whale watching boat.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 00985  

North Pacific humpback whale rounds out near observers.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 01338