Balaenoptera physalus
Silhouette: Chris huh · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
The fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), also known as the finback whale or common rorqual, is a species of baleen whale and the second-longest cetacean after the blue whale. The biggest individual reportedly measured 26–27.3 m (85–90 ft) in length, with a maximum recorded weight of 65.5 to 120 tonnes (72.2 to 132.3 short tons; 64.5 to 118.1 long tons). The fin whale's body is long, slender, and brownish-gray in color, with a paler underside to appear less conspicuous from below (countershading).
At least two recognized subspecies exist, one in the North Atlantic and one across the Southern Hemisphere. The species is found in all the major oceans, from polar to tropical waters, and is absent only from waters close to the pack ice at the poles and relatively small areas of water away from the open ocean. The highest population density occurs in temperate and cool waters. Its prey mainly consists of smaller schooling fish, small squid, and crustaceans, including copepods and krill. Mating takes place in temperate, low-latitude seas during the winter. Fin whales are often observed in pods of 6–10 animals, with whom they communicate using frequency-modulated sounds, ranging from 16 to 40 hertz.
Like all other large whales, the fin whale was a prized kill during the "heyday" of whaling from 1840 to 1861. This remained so into the 20th century, but decades of overharvesting contributed to declining numbers through the late 20th century. Over 725,000 fin whales were reportedly taken from the Southern Hemisphere between 1905 and 1976. Postrecovery numbers of the southern subspecies are predicted to be less than 50% of the prewhaling population, even by 2010, due to long-lasting impacts of whaling and slow recovery rates. In the North Atlantic, it is considered to be fully recovered from past exploitation, while in other oceans, it is still in the process of recovery. As of 2018, it was assessed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenai Fjords National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Svalbard | 🇳🇴 Norway | |
| 3 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 4 | Great Bear Rainforest | 🇨🇦 Canada |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Copenhagen Zoo | 🇩🇰 Denmark | |
| 2 | Zoológico de Concepción | 🇨🇱 Chile | |
| 3 | Acuario de Sevilla | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 4 | Parque Marino de La Magdalena | 🇪🇸 Spain |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Fin Whale sighting in Great Bear Rainforest on a given day, based on 39 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 18th most-seen of the 35 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
April and September
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Fin Whale in Great Bear Rainforest on a given day, against under 5% in November to March, the lowest months.
Between 3 and 6 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Fin Whale sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
4th of 4
Of the 4 parks where we can rate Fin Whale sightings, Great Bear Rainforest ranks 4th at about 10%. The best odds are in Kenai Fjords National Park (United States, about 30%), Svalbard (Norway, about 20%) and Bahía de Loreto National Park (Mexico, about 20%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Fin Whale is recorded against all the mammals logged in Great Bear Rainforest (39 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
