Amazing Humpback Whale Behaviors: Breaching, Fluking, and Lunge Feeding Explained
Humpback whale season is in full swing in Morro Bay, which means we are seeing lots of whale action! Humpbacks are some of the most fun animals to witness because of their social attitude and unique behaviors. On our whale watching trips, it’s not uncommon for these whales to put on quite a show!
Humpback Whale Behaviors
We experience a range of humpback behaviors on our whale watching trips here at Morro Bay Whale Watching, but we want to highlight some of our favorite things to see these creatures do!
Breaching
One of the most iconic whale behaviors, breaching occurs when a humpback propels itself out of the water and lands with an enormous splash. While the exact reason for breaching is still debated, it may serve as a form of communication, play, or a way to dislodge parasites.
Humpback breaching in front of Morro Rock. Photo by DJ Hardy.
Lunge Feeding
This feeding technique is a dramatic sight. Humpbacks will thrust themselves toward a school of small fish or krill, often with their mouths open wide, taking in huge volumes of water and prey. You'll sometimes see groups of whales using bubble nets to gather their food before lunging through the center.
Three humpbacks lunge feeding. Photo by DJ Hardy.
Fluking
When a humpback prepares to dive deep, it arches its back and lifts its tail flukes high above the water before descending. This graceful movement offers a good look at the whale's unique tail pattern and often makes for a great photographic moment!
Humpback flukes in front of Morro Rock. Photo by DJ Hardy.
Pectoral Slapping
Humpbacks have long pectoral fins that can stretch up to 15 feet. They often slap these fins on the surface of the water, possibly as a way to communicate or attract attention. This behavior creates a loud, echoing sound and a splash that's hard to miss.
Tail Lobbing
Also known as lobtailing, this is when a whale lifts its tail out of the water and slams it down forcefully. Like pectoral slapping, tail lobbing may be used to communicate or show dominance, and it's an impressive display of the whale's strength.
Humpback whale tail lobbing. Photo by Amy McKellar.
See These Humpback Behaviors For Yourself
Here at Morro Bay Whale Watching, we’ve been seeing so many humpbacks on all our trips recently. So if you want to catch a whale show and see these humpback behaviors in person, now is a fantastic time to join us for a whale watching tour! Book your trip today - you never know what exciting things you’ll see on the water!