Identifying Humpback Whales

As humpback whales start to return to BC waters, many may wonder how we distinguish among the multitude of popular and familiar visitors we see on tour. Each year, numerous whales return to the Salish Sea. Regarding humpbacks, it’s not so much recognizing familiar faces as identifying unique patterns and other distinctive traits on the humpback’s tail, also known as the “fluke.”

The Cetacean Research Program, through Fisheries and Oceans Canada, categorizes humpback whales into three designations based on the amount of white pigment present on their flukes. Then, humpbacks are catalogued to ensure that they can be recognized in the future. This catalogue comprises a compilation of photographs used to identify humpback whales observed in British Columbian waters from 1989 to 2007. Through this system, humpback whales are categorized by the location where they were spotted, hence BC, followed by X, Y or Z depending on the white content of their flukes. BCX whales have up to 20% white on their flukes, BCY whales feature anywhere from 20% to 80% white, and BCZ whales exhibit 80% to 100% white. Furthermore, each whale is assigned a distinct four-digit numeric identifier, although many also boast endearing nicknames. Take, for instance, BCY0324, affectionately known as “Big Mama.” Big Mama is one of the fan-favourite humpbacks of the Salish Sea, as she is thought to have started the “Humpback Comeback”, and has been bringing her calves to the Salish Sea every year since 2003!

Humpback whales are often spotted on our tours from May to November, and our naturalists love to educate guests on these incredible creatures while watching them. We also love writing about humpback whales, and we have an arsenal full of fun facts about these incredible cetaceans! Upon booking a tour with us, the fees you pay with your ticket are donated to multiple local conservation organizations. We aim to protect these creatures as much as possible through the education of our passengers and partnerships with local organizations focused on research and habitat preservation. With our actions, we hope to make a difference for the future of these species in these waters, for our guests to enjoy for years to come!

Want to see what else is in BC’s waters?

We have discussed Humpback Whales in Episode 2 of the Prince of Whales PODcast, so if you want to learn more fun-facts about these beautiful creatures, you can check it out here!