The Fin or Finback Whale is the 2nd largest animal to have ever roamed the planet, 2nd only to the Blue Whale. They are the largest baleen whale that we see on a regular basis. These whales are also one of the most beautiful in my opinion. Their bodies are grey in color with creamy white bellies and they each have a unique swirling blaze or chevron pattern on their backs and right side. That chevron pattern as well as the shape and size of their dorsal fins and any unique scarring helps researchers to identify them as individuals. Fin Whales are also asymmetrically colored which means that their lower right jaw is a creamy white color while the other side is uniform grey with the rest of its body.
In general Fin Whales are normally seen traveling alone. We don’t usually see them in association with one another, but there are always exceptions to this rule. During a recent whale watch we actually saw three in association which is always really cool to see. These whales can be more elusive and hard to get good looks at as they generally try to avoid boats. They’re also very fast animals and are nicknamed the greyhounds of the sea. They can reach short bursts of speed up to 30 miles per hour! So, all of those factors considered, they can be challenging at times, but when they’re being whale watching friendly they’re really amazing to watch!
