When and where to see it
Fin whales do not live here: they are seen around Madeira from March to October, usually as they move between feeding and breeding waters. In the spring 2017 log one was recorded on 14 April.
They are among the fastest of the great whales, so an encounter can be short. Most are seen alone or in pairs.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fin whale | January: rarely seen | February: rarely seen | March: main season | April: main season | May: main season | June: main season | July: main season | August: main season | September: main season | October: main season | November: rarely seen | December: rarely seen |
How to recognise it
A fin whale is very long and streamlined, dark grey above and white below. Its lower jaw is white on the right side and dark on the left, a mark no other whale has. The blow is a tall, narrow column, and the small dorsal fin shows well after the blow.
Tall blow
A narrow column, often 4–6 m high.
White right jaw
The right lower jaw is white, the left one dark.
Small fin, far back
It appears a moment after the head and the blow.
| Length | 18–22 m in the North Atlantic |
|---|---|
| Weight | About 40–70 t |
| Food | Krill and small schooling fish |
| Dives | Usually 5–15 minutes |
| Groups | Alone or in small groups |
| IUCN Red List | Vulnerable |
Seen off Calheta in spring 2017
Trips from Calheta with this species in the spring 2017 sightings log (1 of 15):
14 April
Tips for a good sighting
Fin whales seldom lift their tail when they dive, so watch for the long back rolling through the water after the blow. Rules on distance and speed matter most with big whales, which can surface suddenly close to a boat.
How boats should behave around whales and dolphins is in responsible whale watching, and the trips from the marina are in whale and dolphin watching.
Read next
- Sei whaleA fast, sleek summer visitor and one of the rarer great whales here.
- Bryde’s whaleA large baleen whale of the warm months, with three ridges on its head.
- Sperm whaleThe deep diver: when it is around, and how to spot the blow and the tail.
- Whale watchingSpecies by month, boats from the marina and how to choose a trip.