Marine mammal

Humpback whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Open ocean, coastal feeding waters, and warm, shallow breeding areas

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Photo: (c) bungelina, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY · Source and license. Displayed as a resized crop. Photograph illustrates the species.

Habitat: Open ocean, coastal feeding waters, and warm, shallow breeding areas
Viewing zone: Observe at the surface from shore or a boat
Viewing activities: Offshore

Life and behavior

Many populations feed in cooler waters in summer and migrate to warmer breeding waters in winter.

Wider distribution

Occurs in oceans worldwide, with migrations between feeding and breeding areas.

Seasonal context

Seasonal movements depend on the population and region; a record does not establish a local viewing season.

RECORDED PRESENCE

Where has Humpback whale been recorded?

These destination links use the same area and date cutoff as the map: 40 km circles, except for the four named regional rectangles. Checked 2026-09-19. Counts describe source records, not individual animals or sighting odds.

AzoresPortugal40 km radius · 343 source records since 2016About this destination →BonaireCaribbean Netherlands40 km radius · 1 source records since 2016About this destination →Cabo San LucasMexico40 km radius · 17305 source records since 2016About this destination →Canary IslandsSpain40 km radius · 1 source records since 2016About this destination →Channel IslandsCalifornia, United States40 km radius · 3727 source records since 2016About this destination →Chesapeake BayVirginia & Maryland, United StatesRegional rectangle · 650 source records since 2016About this destination →GalápagosEcuador40 km radius · 9 source records since 2016About this destination →HawaiʻiHawaiʻi, United StatesRegional rectangle · 34181 source records since 2016About this destination →Kona CoastHawaiʻi, United States40 km radius · 1861 source records since 2016About this destination →La JollaCalifornia, United States40 km radius · 603 source records since 2016About this destination →La PazBaja California Sur, Mexico40 km radius · 136 source records since 2016About this destination →MauiHawaiʻi, United States40 km radius · 20599 source records since 2016About this destination →Monterey BayCalifornia, United StatesRegional rectangle · 44239 source records since 2016About this destination →OkinawaJapan40 km radius · 41 source records since 2016About this destination →SabaCaribbean Netherlands40 km radius · 3 source records since 2016About this destination →Saint LuciaSaint Lucia40 km radius · 7 source records since 2016About this destination →Turks & CaicosTurks and Caicos Islands40 km radius · 8 source records since 2016About this destination →U.S. Virgin IslandsUnited States40 km radius · 4 source records since 2016About this destination →

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