Minke Whale

In the vast expanses of the world’s oceans, the Common Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) emerges as a fascinating mid-sized baleen whale species, characterized by its dynamic behaviors and enigmatic nature. Sporting a sleek and streamlined physique, these agile marine mammals navigate the open waters with remarkable versatility. Common Minke Whales are recognized for their elusive presence, often darting beneath the surface with unparalleled agility, making them a challenge to study and observe in their natural habitat.

In addition to their swift movements, these whales exhibit intriguing feeding behaviors, showcasing adaptability in their diet. Common Minkes are known to feed on small schooling fish, krill, and other crustaceans, employing various hunting techniques such as lunging and bubble-net feeding. Our scientific fact sheet delves into the multifaceted world of the Common Minke Whale, unraveling the mysteries of their elusive behaviors, feeding strategies, and the ecological significance they hold as versatile inhabitants of the oceanic realm.

Quick facts

Length

Male: 8,5m

Female: 9,5m

Calf: 2,8m

Weight

Male: 8 tons

Female: 8 tons

Calves: 450 kg

Habits

Dive Time

<20mins

Dive Depth

Close to surface

Reproduction

Up to 60 years

Life Span:

10-11mth

Gestation period:

Physical characteristics

Group Structure

Common Minke Whales, considered cosmopolitan, display a versatile global distribution in polar, temperate, and tropical waters, favoring temperate to boreal regions. They thrive in diverse marine environments, residing in both coastal and oceanic areas. Migration is common, but some maintain resident home ranges.

Distribution varies by age, reproductive status, and sex, with males favoring polar regions and females staying coastal. In winter, mother-calf pairs appear in lower latitudes.

Minkes migrate for breeding and feeding, with summer sightings in the Azores indicating possible food abundance, potentially bypassing further northward migration.

Common Minke Whale Azores Whale Watching

Dive sequence

@Georgina Cabayol

Behavior

Common sightings +

When seen, common minke whales tend to breach more often compared with other baleen whale species. Spyhopping behavior can be observed significantly more often in icy areas.
When they come to the surface, they often come with the snout first. Unlike other rorqual species, they do not raise their flukes out of the water when they dive.
When traveling at high speeds, when surfacing, they have a quick fluid movement, which creates spray (sometimes described as a “roostertail”).

Communication +

In most areas, this species tends to be silent and not vocalizing a lot, maybe due to the potential presence of predators. In contrast, in different other areas, they produce a variability of sounds. They are known to vocalize and create sounds that include clicks, grunts, pulse trains, ratchets, thumps, and recently discovered “boings.”

Foraging & Diet +

Common minke whales of the northern hemisphere are baleen whales and predominantly feed on small schooling fish, such as salmon, mackerel, cod, and lanternfish. Further, they opportunistically also prey on tiny crustaceans, depending on prey availability and season. The observed feeding behavior varies between entrapment maneuvers and engulfing maneuvers.

Predators

In terms of natural predators, there are orcas predominantly preying on common minke whales. Due to their size, these whales are much more vulnerable than other baleen whale species. Some larger sharks, like tiger and the great white shark, may prey on dwarf minke whales or common minke whale calves.

https://wwhandbook.iwc.int/en/species/minke-whale

Distribution & Movements

The ranges of common minke whales can reach far North during summer times, however, their breeding grounds in the winter season are poorly known yet. In general, it appears likely that they shift their distribution regarding food abundance and prefer warmer waters for breeding, despite a few populations remaining year-round in cold waters.

Here on the Azores, common minke whales are spotted only occasionally, showing no significant migration or residency patterns.

Reproduction & Life History

Sexual maturity

Male 5 – 8 years; Female 6 – 8 years
This is when they reach 7m of length.

Gestation period

10 – 11 months
Females give birth to a single calf that is about 2.5m to 3.5 m and weighs between 317 to 450 kg.

Number of calves

One calf per 1 – 2 years

Suckling period

4 – 6 months

Lifespan

Up to 60 years

Species in the Azores

Specimen that you can see in Azores sea

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue whales are the largest animals in the world and can easily be detected from a great distance.

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

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Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Sperm whales hold the title of largest predator on Earth eating mostly giant squids from the deep oceans.

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

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Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

The Bryde's whale live in the tropical waters, are agile filter feeders and love to perform acrobatic displays.

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

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Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

The second-largest whales, swift and streamlined ocean roamers.

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

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Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Agile mid-sized baleen whales, known for their elusive nature.

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

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Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

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Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Highly social, intelligent & deep divers.

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

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Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Elusive deep-divers known for their unique foraging behavior.

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

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Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Third-largest whale species on Earth, fast swimmers and deep-divers.

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

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Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

Noted for extraordinary deep-diving, setting mammalian records in depth and duration

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

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Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Melodic giants with acrobatic displays, known for their haunting songs and intricate social behaviors. Know more!

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

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Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

Highly social, with distinct spots and a wide range of complex behaviors and vocalizations.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

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Striped Dolphin

Stenella coeruleoalba

Notable for their striking body patterns and acrobatic prowess.

Striped Dolphin

Stenella coeruleoalba

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Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Bottlenose Dolphins are highly intelligent and social creatures, famous for their playful behavior and remarkable cognitive abilities.

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

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Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

Orcas are the apex predators of the marine world, known for their distinctive black and white coloring and complex social structures.

Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

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Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Large groups of common dolphins, whipping the ocean's surface into a froth, are a familiar and thrilling sight in many parts of the world.

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

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False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

Despite its name, the false killer whale belongs taxonomically to the dolphin family and it often behaves more like one of its energetic and sprightly smaller relatives.

False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

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Sowerby’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon bidens

Sowerby’s Beaked Whales are elusive denizens of the North Atlantic, recognized by their slender beaks and distinctive forehead bulges.

Sowerby’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon bidens

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Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

Risso's dolphin is renowned for its heavily scarred appearance and significant size among species referred to as dolphins.

Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

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Dragoeiro

Dracaena draco

Dragoeiro

Dracaena draco

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Sanguinho

Frangula azorica

Sanguinho

Frangula azorica

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Gingeira Brava

Prunus azorica

Gingeira Brava

Prunus azorica

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Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

Highly social, with distinct spots and a wide range of complex behaviors and vocalizations.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella Frontalis

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Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Elusive deep-divers known for their unique foraging behavior.

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

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Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Bottlenose Dolphins are highly intelligent and social creatures, famous for their playful behavior and remarkable cognitive abilities.

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

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Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Large groups of common dolphins, whipping the ocean's surface into a froth, are a familiar and thrilling sight in many parts of the world.

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

View profile

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

Noted for extraordinary deep-diving, setting mammalian records in depth and duration

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

View profile

False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

Despite its name, the false killer whale belongs taxonomically to the dolphin family and it often behaves more like one of its energetic and sprightly smaller relatives.

False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

View profile

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

View profile

Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

Orcas are the apex predators of the marine world, known for their distinctive black and white coloring and complex social structures.

Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

View profile

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Highly social, intelligent & deep divers.

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

View profile

Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

Risso's dolphin is renowned for its heavily scarred appearance and significant size among species referred to as dolphins.

Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus

View profile

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue whales are the largest animals in the world and can easily be detected from a great distance.

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

View profile

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

The Bryde's whale live in the tropical waters, are agile filter feeders and love to perform acrobatic displays.

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

View profile

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

The second-largest whales, swift and streamlined ocean roamers.

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

View profile

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Melodic giants with acrobatic displays, known for their haunting songs and intricate social behaviors. Know more!

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

View profile

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Agile mid-sized baleen whales, known for their elusive nature.

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

View profile

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Third-largest whale species on Earth, fast swimmers and deep-divers.

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

View profile

Whale Watching Azores Essentials

Explore, Love, and Protect: Unveiling the essence of Whale Watching in the Azores

More information

Explore Azores

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Agile mid-sized baleen whales, known for their elusive nature.

Quick facts

Length

Weight

Habits

Reproduction

Reproduction

IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Least Concern <img width="21" height="26" class="graphics-design-i" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/tooltip-more-info-futurismo.svg"> Common and widespread, low vulnerability.

Physical characteristics

Group Structure

Dive sequence

Behavior

Predators

Distribution & Movements

Reproduction & Life History

Sexual maturity

Gestation period

Number of calves

Suckling period

Lifespan

Species in the Azores

Sighting frequency

Sighting frequency

BY SPECIES

Sighting frequency

BY SPECIES

Species

Departure Points

Dates

Related Scientific Articles

González, L. (2018): Spatio-temporal distribution of the order Cetacea in the Azores: relationship between biotic and abiotic variables

Valente, R. et al (2019): Baleen whales in Macaronesia: occurrence patterns revealed through a bibliographic review

Valente, R. et al (2019): When and Where? Unravelling Distribution Patterns of Baleen Whales through a Bibliographic Review

Van der Linde, M. et al (2013): Baleen Whales Sighted Occasionally in the Azores: Bryde’s Whale, Minke Whale, and Humpback Whale

Specimen that you can see in Azores sea

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Nothern Bottlenose Whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Pilot Whale (Long & Short-finned)

Globicephala melas | Globicephala macrorhynchus

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Blainville’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale

Ziphius cavirostris

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback Whale

IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Least Concern

Common and widespread, low vulnerability.