Fin Whale

  • Irish name: An Droimeiteach
  • Latin name: Balaenoptera physalus
  • Size: 21 – 22.5m 
  • Diet: Krill, sprat and herring.
DESCRIPTION:

They are an extremely large and streamlined whale with a pointed head (rostrum), proportionate pectoral fins and tall but curved dorsal fin. They are uniquely asymmetrically coloured with a white lower right jaw contrasting their black lower left jaw.

BEHAVIOUR:

A tall columnar blow is produced when surfacing that can reach 7-8 m in height. Due to their large size, their back very obviously rolls forward until their dorsal fin is displayed before diving. They almost never breach or tail fluke.

IN IRELAND:

To date over 60 individual fin whales have been Photo identified in Irish waters, mostly along the South coast. Some individuals have been re-sighted inter-annually but several have been recorded over a decade like the individual known as “Scar” (FWIRL2) who has appeared on numerous occasions from Cork to Waterford since 2005.

Fin Whale Sightings 2009 – 2019

Downloadable Detailed Species Information

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