Whale4

Joined a singer, 75% white flukes

This whale is very likely an adult male based on the fact that it was observed to join a solitary singing male. Adult males often ‘lurk’ nearby a solitary singer, possibly to capitalize on any mating opportunities that his song may create. The function and intended audience of song are enigmatic, but one thing seems clear – song is not a “chick magnet”. Females do not appear to approach singers, but other males do, like this whale. When a male joins a singer, the song often stops abruptly, and the two males swim off together, and may stay together, or may split up fairly soon, and the singer may resume his song. What does it all mean? So far the whales are keeping that to themselves.