Facts about Humpback Whale Migration
- 05
Populations from the Southern Hemisphere and Northern Hemisphere undertake humpback whale migration at opposite times of year, so the two groups rarely interbreed.
- 04
Singing behavior is most commonly observed in male humpback whales during migration and at breeding grounds, suggesting a role in mate attraction.
- 03
The waters around Hawaii and the Dominican Republic serve as major humpback whale breeding and calving destinations at the end of their annual migration.
- 02
During migration, humpback whales typically fast, relying on thick blubber reserves accumulated during summer feeding in polar waters.
- 01
Humpback whale migration routes rank among the longest of any mammal, with some individuals traveling over 16,000 kilometers round-trip between polar feeding grounds and tropical breeding areas.