Whales and dolphins around the British Isles I ... to Sea Watch Foundation Email:
Whales and dolphins around the British Isles I Long Finned Pilot Whale
Harbour Porpoise x x x x x x
Small and stocky, 1.4 - 1.8m Small triangular dorsal fin Dark grey or brown colour No beak, no forehead bulge Unobtrusive Usually in small groups or individuals
x x x x x x
Mainly black whale, 4 - 6m Bulbous rounded head Low backwards pointing dorsal fin Long flippers (front fins) Usually in tight compact schools More often seen in deeper water
x x x x x x
Very large, males grow to 9m Noticeably black and white Distinct white oval patch behind eyes Pale saddle-patch behind dorsal fin Males have very tall erect dorsal fin Acrobatic, fast and active, breaches
x x x x x
Most common baleen whale in UK Large, 7 - 9m long; triangular head Curved dorsal fin 2/3rds along back Brief arching roll Large white stripe across flippers Often seen quite close to shore
x x x x x
Huge baleen whale, 18 - 24m White right lower jaw; pointed head Long, slow shallow roll Small dorsal fin seen soon after blow Tall cone-shape blow, up to 6m high Usually seen offshore in deeper waters
Killer Whale or Orca
Common Dolphin x x x x x x x
Commonest in South-west Small dolphin, 1.6 - 2.5m Dorsal fin slender & curved Hourglass pattern on sides Lower flanks cream, pale grey behind Streamlined body, slender beak Breaches and bow-rides Minke Whale
Bottlenose Dolphin x x x x x x
Large, robust dolphin, up to 4m Large central curved dorsal fin Uniform grey or brown colour Pale undersides Distinct short beak, rounded forehead Acrobatic, breaches and bow-rides
x
Fin Whale
White-beaked Dolphin x x x x x x
Common in N. Sea / N.W. Britain Stocky dolphin, 2.5 - 2.8m Black with white on sides and over back behind fin Tall, curved dorsal fin. Short, thick beak, white-tipped Breaches and bow-rides
x
Please report sightings to Sea Watch Foundation Email:
[email protected], Tel: 01545 561227, Web: www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk Photographs copyright of J. Benney, D.M. Burn, R. Hays, S. Hooker, S. Kraus, P.G.H. Evans and The Sea Watch Foundation. Design: J. Galpin, Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch.
With support from
Whales and dolphins around the British Isles II I Harbour Porpoise Humpback Whale
Common Dolphin Sperm Whale
x xx xx xx xx x xx
Robust whale, 11.5 - 15m Low fin 2/3 1.4 along the back Smalldorsal and stocky, - 1.8m Knobs on head and lower Small triangular dorsal fin jaw Long white markings Dark flippers grey or with brown colour Tail has serrated edge bulge and is white No beak, no forehead underneath Unobtrusive May breach, lobtail and flipper slap Usually in small groups or individuals
x x x x x x x x x x x x
Large deep-water toothed whale, 8.3Commonest in South-west 15.8m Smallmuch dolphin, 1.6than - 2.5m Male larger female, huge Dorsal fin slender & curved square head, small lower jaw Hourglass pattern on sides Cigar-shaped, skin corrugations Lowerdistinct flanks cream, paledorsal grey hump behind Small triangular Streamlined body, slender beak Bushy blow up to 5m high, directed Breaches and and to bow-rides forwards left
Long Finned Pilot Whale Sei Whale
x xx xx xx x xx xx
Rare visitor from deep waters Mainly black whale, 4 - 6m Slender dark grey whale, 13.7 - 21m Bulbous rounded head V-shaped, slightly arched head Lowdorsal backwards pointing dorsal fin Tall fin erect, strongly sickle Long flippers (front fins) shaped and 2/3 along back Usually in tight compact schools Vertical, bushy blow, 3m high More often seen in deeper Fin usually shows same timewater as blow
x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Rare, offshore species Very large, males grow to 9m Long, robust cylindrical whale, 7 - 9m Noticeably black and white Bulbous forehead Distinct white oval patch behind eyes Short dolphin-like beak Pale saddle-patch behind dorsal fin Tall, erect, hooked dorsal fin Males have very tall erect dorsal fin Body chocolate to olive brown Acrobatic, fast and active, breaches Slightly forward pointing bushy blow
Killer Whale or Orca Whale Northern Bottlenose
Minke Whale Atlantic White-sided Dolphin
Bottlenose Dolphin Risso’s Dolphin xx xx xx xx xx xx White-beaked Dolphin Cuvier’s Beaked Whale xx xx xx x xx
xx xx xx xx xx
Offshore species, oftenwhale in large groups Most common baleen in UK Small dolphin, 2.1 2.6m Large, 7 - 9m long; triangular head Dorsal tall and Curvedfindorsal fin curved 2/3rds along back Sloping black head Brief arching roll and black on back Cream/white into yellow patches Large white stripe acrossflank flippers xx No white on back behind fin Often seen quite close to shore x Breaches and occasionally bow-rides
Large up to 3.8m Large,dolphin, robust dolphin, up to 4m Mature adults very pale to white. Large central curved dorsal fin Often heavily scarred head to fin Uniform grey or brown colour Tall dorsal fin Palecurved undersides Large rounded head,rounded no beakforehead Distinct short beak, Breaches and spy-hops Acrobatic, breaches and bow-rides
Rare, deep-(warm)water Common in N. Sea / N.W.species Britain Long, robust whale – 6.9m Stocky dolphin, 2.5 5.1 - 2.8m Small head, concaved Black sloping with white on slightly sides and over Triangular, slightly hooked dorsal fin back behind fin Back dark rust brown, grey or fawn Tall, curved dorsal fin. xx In olderthick adults, almost white head and Short, beak, white-tipped of neck x back Breaches and bow-rides
Fin Whale Beaked Whale Sowerby’s x xx xx xx xx x
Rare, deep-water whale Huge baleen whale, 18 -5.0 24m Slender dark grey body, - 5.5m White right lower jaw; pointed head Small head, slightly concaved forehead Long,slender slow shallow Long beak roll Small dorsal seen soon afterfrom blow Two flattenedfin teeth protruding Tall cone-shape blow, up to 6m high middle of lower jaw in adult males Usually seen offshorehooked in deeper xx Triangular or slightly fin waters
Please report sightings to Sea Watch Foundation Email:
[email protected], Tel: 01545 561227, Web: www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk Photographs copyright of J. Benney, D.M. Burn, R. Hays, S. Hooker, S. Kraus, P.G.H. Evans and The Sea Watch Foundation. Design: J. Galpin, Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch.
With support from
