The Language of the Tail: Humpback Whale Behaviors Explained
Two behaviours we often encounter are tail slaps and throws! The first one is when a humpback lifts its tail (also known as fluke) out of the water and forcefully strikes it back onto the surface, and the second one is when the humpback swings its tail and the back portion of its body from side to side, splashing in the surface, while its head remains submerged. These actions are often interpreted as more aggressive behaviour. They tend to occur repeatedly and may act as a form of warning. We observe it often when big ships move around and get bothered by the sound of moms getting protective of their babies if a boat gets too close or when males are showing off/ competing for a female.
Powerful Signals: How Humpbacks Use Their Tails to Communicate
These can also be done gracefully and work as normal communication, but as far as we know, it can be a defence mechanism. We always watch them from an appropriate distance and make sure they are comfortable, though, so they won’t need to worry about our boat!
