There are 2 types of pilot whale: the long-fin pilot whales usually reside in colder northern waters such as Norway, Iceland or Canada and there is also a population in the Mediterranean; while the short-fin pilot whales prefer warmer waters, such as the Canary Islands. In the Azores, we can see both types. Over the past few years, long-fin pilot whales have been observed in the spring or early summer while the short-fin are present throughout the summer and have been recorded in the Azores for many years.

How to tell them apart – it isn’t easy!

There are a few differences between the two species. The main one (although we can’t see it from the surface) is the length of the pectoral fin. In the long-fin, the pectoral fin is around 1/4 of the body length, while the short-fin has shorter flippers only up to about 1/6 of the body length.

Short-fin pilot whales have more color variation on the top of their bodies, with lighter shading on the “shoulders” and down the back in comparison to the long-fin; but the short-fin have less pigmentation on the underside; another feature that we can’t see from the surface. The long-fin pilot whales have a very visible “anchor patch” on their chest, which is not as defined on the short-fin.

Long-finned pilot whales are slightly larger, with males reaching lengths between 4-6.7 meters and females 3.8-5.7m, while most short-finned pilot whales are a bit smaller; males typically measuring around 4.2-7.3m and females 3.2-5.1m. Long-finned pilot whales also possess a more pronounced dorsal fin, sloping further towards the back, compared to the shorter and more rounded dorsal fin of their short-finned counterpart.

Differences in behavior

From the few encounters that we have had with the long-fin pilot whales, there are some big differences in the behavior of the 2 species. The long-fin we have “met” tend to show some curiosity about the boat and come over to inspect us, sometimes almost appearing to bowride like their smaller dolphin cousins. We have observed them breaching out of the water as well as spy-hopping which is when they lift their head, up to the eye, out of the water. Both of these 2 behaviors allow us to see the pigmentation pattern on the chest of the animals, which helps to confirm the species. In the Azores, the short-fin do not usually approach the boat and we (the author) have never seen one breach out of the water (yet).

We have certainly been enjoying the sightings of the long fin pilot whales over the last month, but most likely for the rest of the summer to come, it will be the usual short-fin pilot whales that we see. Whichever species it is, seeing these large, deep diving dolphins is always a treat.

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They possess complex social structures and exhibit sophisticated hunting techniques, often working together in coordinated groups. They live in family pods, typically composed of several generations of related individuals, demonstrate cooperative behavior and effective communication, allowing them to thrive in various marine environments. Orcas are matrilineal, meaning that the older females are the ones leading the group and showing the younger animals behaviors necessary to survive.

There are several “types” of orcas and each type specializes on certain types of prey. So one type will eat salmon, while others are focused on rays or sharks, some are seal specialists and others predate on marine mammals. Pods have even been seen attacking large baleen whales in coordinated attacks. One very well documented hunt off the California coast is the orcas attacking gray whale calves when they are just a few months old on their first migration between the breeding and the feeding grounds.

The orcas in the Azores have been documented eating fish on several occasions. There have also been reports of orcas harassing a fin whale near Sao Miguel and there was evidence (a dorsal fin found floating at the surface) that orcas had killed a beaked or pilot whale to the South of Pico earlier this year. There are likely a few different groups of orcas that pass through the islands. The orcas seen here may not be specialists, it is possible that they eat both fish and marine mammals, but only future encounters will confirm this.

We have 2 individuals that have been photographed in the Azores that have been seen off of Spain. We share photos with people in Norway and Iceland too, trying to work out where “our” orcas go when they aren’t here, which is most of the time!! We know that some of the pods seen in the Faial/Pico area have been photographed in Sao Miguel too. One of the males, from the most recent sighting of 2 males traveling north of Faial, had been seen last year.

So we need more sightings of these amazing animals to work out what is going on!

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Spotted dolphin, Stenella frontalis, are one of our most common sightings in the Azores. They are an oceanic dolphin, spending most of their lives away from shores, but with our deep waters close to the coast, they are a regular sighting. But usually, they arrive towards the end of June or the beginning of July, when the water is a bit warmer. They spend the winters in warmer waters to the south of the Azores. This year, the spotted dolphin have arrived a bit early, with several sightings in May. This early arrival could be related to slightly warmer water temperatures this year. Or maybe they just followed some fish! We will only know if this early arrival becomes the new standard over the next few years.

One of the most recognizable features of the Atlantic spotted dolphin is its striking coloration. The body of the dolphin is predominantly gray with a light underside, while its back, sides, and fins are speckled with a pattern of light gray or white spots. These spots become more prominent as the dolphin matures, making it easy to distinguish between juveniles and adults. They also have a white tip to their beak that appears like a flashlight, when the dolphin are coming towards the boat.

Atlantic spotted dolphins are highly gregarious creatures that frequently form large pods, sometimes up to 1000 individuals. These pods often engage in synchronized swimming, leaping, and bow-riding in front of the boat. With its distinctive spots and playful nature, this dolphin species has captured the hearts of many researchers, conservationists, and marine enthusiasts, including ours!!

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Blue!!

We also had a few humpback and fin whales as well as several sei whales.

Humpback Fluke

White jaw confirms fin whale

Sei whale powering through the waves

BREACH!!!

There were 46 different sperm whales identified, including 16 known individuals and 27 new ones.

High fluking sperm whale

We saw over 1500 common dolphin

Common dolphin beauty

and several groups of bottlenose dolphin

Bottlenose dolphin faces

in addition to an unexpected sighting of false killer whales and you never know when they will turn up!

Photobombed false killer whale

See you next year Biosphere!

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The Azores archipelago is known for its rich biodiversity, particularly its thriving population of sperm whales. These majestic creatures can be seen in the waters surrounding the islands year-round.

Sperm whales are the largest toothed whales on the planet and males can grow up to 18 meters in length. They are famous for their distinctive block-shaped heads and their ability to dive to incredible depths in search of food. Sperm whales also have a very distinctive blow; it goes off to the left, because their blowhole is on the left side of their head. The Azores are home to some of these magnificent creatures.

The best time to observe sperm whales in the Azores is from April to October, when the weather is warmer and the seas are calmer. This period also coincides with the main breeding season, which means that you may be lucky enough to witness male sperm whales competing for the attention of a female. It’s also a good time to see mother and calf pairs, as the females tend to give birth in the summer months and nurse their young for up to two years.

Sperm whales feed, mainly on various types of squid or octopus all year around in the Azores. They often dive up to 3000m in search of their prey. Sometimes we come across the remains of a sperm whale’s dinner, large pieces of the squid they have been munching on, floating at the surface. When they are feeding, they spend about 10 minutes at the surface, recharging their oxygen supply, before returning to the depths to hunt. That moment when they dive, is what we are all waiting for, as they lift their tail out of the water, creating some amazing photos. It also gives us a chance to get a photo of the trailing edge of the fluke, which is like a fingerprint. When we have that photo, we can identify the individual animal and then have the ability to track it over space (distance) and time. To maximize your chances of spotting sperm whales in the Azores, it’s best to take a guided tour with an experienced local operator. These tours often use hydrophones to listen for the distinctive clicks of the sperm whales, which can help the guides to locate them. We use local spotters “vigias” on the cliffs, who use binocculars to spot the whales for us, before we even leave the harbor. Without a vigia, we would not see as many animals as we do.

The Azores archipelago is one of the best places in the world to observe sperm whales in the wild, because there are very deep waters close to the coast, which is perfect sperm whale habitat.

By visiting during the peak months of April to October and taking a guided tour, you can increase your chances of seeing these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast or just looking for a unique travel experience, the Azores is a destination that should be on your bucket list.

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