Stocky, slow-moving whale, rarely grows beyond 15 metres in length
Flippers are a third of body length; variable dorsal fin size and shape; saw-toothed trailing edge on flukes, often raised when diving
Bumpy tubercles on top of head
Body colour is dark brown to black; often extensive white on flippers and underside of body and flukes; such patterns enable individual recognition
Bushy blow, occasionally V-shaped
270-400 olive baleen plates
Humpback whales belong to the rorqual (groove-throated) family, which includes fin, sei, Bryde's, minke and blue whales. The big family migrate between winter tropical breeding areas (North West Shelf, Great Barrier Reef, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiii, Tonga) and summer Antarctic feeding areas. Once common in New Zealand waters, humpbacks are now rarely seen and may migrate further offshore. Males compete for mates either by physical fight or by song. Females give birth to their young every two to three years; some non-breeding females probably remain in the southern waters during winter. Young humpback whales return to their area of birth but in later life some wander between breeding areas. Humpbacks eat small shrimps and other schooling prey, such as fish, forming small, cooperative groups of two to three individuals to feed.
Similar species: Easily identifiable due to a 'hump' back when submerging, but at a distance may be confused with other species that raise their flukes when diving, such as sperm, right and blue whales.
Protection status: Recovering well from past whaling and now numerous in some former migration and aggregation areas, rarely seen in others.
