Southern Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae is a long-flippered baleen whale that migrates through New Zealand waters. It differs from other local rorquals through its knobbled head and exceptionally long pectoral fins. The back is dark, the flippers are long and the tail underside has individual markings. Animals often arch strongly before a dive and may breach.

Humpbacks pass New Zealand while moving between Antarctic feeding grounds and tropical breeding areas. Cook Strait and eastern coasts lie on recognised migration routes. They eat krill and schooling fish on productive feeding grounds. Their repertoire includes breaching, fin slapping and complex breeding songs.

Cook Strait ferries and Kaikōura trips can see migrants, most often during seasonal passage.