Whales in Newfoundland Waters

Humpback Whales

When summer comes to Newfoundland and Labrador so do thousands of humpback whales. Look for their balloon-shaped blow and watch while they dive with their tails in the air as if saying goodbye. Their long white side flippers, which are about one-third of their body length, can be observed at close range from shore and boats. Humpbacks arrive from the Caribbean in the early spring to feed on the south coast in the Hermitage and Placentia Bays. See this baleen whale around the bird sanctuaries at Witless Bay.

Minke Whales

A common inshore sight in Newfoundland bays, the solitary minke whale is the smallest baleen whale. The minke blow is low and often not noticeable. Be quick to look because it is a fast moving whale spending a few minutes cruising and diving near the surface before its terminal dive of 15 to 20 minutes. Differing from the humpback, it dives without showing its tail fin. Minke whales are black on top with a tall hooked dorsal fin and small side flippers that have a white patch on them. Their bellies are pure white. You can see them in harbors during summer and fall as they feed on caplin, herring and mackerel.

Fin Whale

You will know when you have seen a finback. After viewing its straight high ice cream cone-shaped blow, you will then look at this streamlined black back before its long curved dorsal fin appears. Its underside is white and its side flippers are small and pointed. The fin whale is second in size to the blue whale. It is a fast whale that will submerge only to resurface some distance away. These whales are common around Newfoundland and Labrador, generally traveling further offshore than the humpback and minke, and in groups of two to eight animals.

Harbour Porpoise

The harbour porpoise is the smallest of the whales. Locally it is referred to as "puffin pig" because of the grunting sound it makes while breathing. Usually seen singly or in small groups of 3 to 5 playing and spinning amongst each other, it has a rounded head with no beak, its skin is dark grey on the back and speckled white underneath. The flippers, small and black, are always located on the white portion of the body. The dorsal fin is stout and triangular, positioned in the middle of the back. Harbour porpoises are shy of boats and are not known to bowride. They are listed as "threatened" on the Canadian Endangered Species List.

Click on Pictures for larger view