When and where to see it
Sei whales are seen around Madeira mainly from May to September. Their visits vary a lot from year to year: some summers bring several sightings, others almost none.
They move quickly and often in a straight line, coming up to breathe a few times before a longer dive.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sei whale | January: rarely seen | February: rarely seen | March: rarely seen | April: rarely seen | May: main season | June: main season | July: main season | August: main season | September: main season | October: rarely seen | November: rarely seen | December: rarely seen |
How to recognise it
A sei whale is dark grey with a slightly paler belly and often pale oval scars on its sides. It has a single ridge along the top of the head. The dorsal fin is tall and curved, and the head and fin often show at the same time when it surfaces.
One head ridge
Unlike the three ridges of a Bryde’s whale.
Fin and blow together
The tall fin appears almost as soon as the blow.
Shallow dives
It sinks rather than arching and rarely shows its tail.
| Length | 12–16 m |
|---|---|
| Weight | About 15–25 t |
| Food | Krill, copepods and small fish |
| Dives | Usually 5–15 minutes |
| Groups | Alone or in small groups |
| IUCN Red List | Endangered |
Tips for a good sighting
At sea, sei and Bryde’s whales look alike, and even skippers sometimes need a photo of the head to be sure. Ask the crew what they think it is, and keep your camera ready for the moment the head breaks the surface.
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
- Bryde’s whaleA large baleen whale of the warm months, with three ridges on its head.
- Fin whaleThe second-largest animal on Earth, passing Madeira in spring and summer.
- 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.