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A whale partially emerges from the ocean with its mouth open, beneath a clear sky.
A sperm whale surfaces in calm blue ocean water, showing its head and back.
A whale surfacing in calm blue ocean water with ripples.

Fin Whale

General Information
Life Span
85–90 years
Occurrence in Faro
Migratory – Spring
Pod Composition
3–7
Max Speed
40–46 km/h
Max Size
27 m
Sightings
Common
Diet
Small schooling fish & plankton
Dive
230–470 m · up to 15 min
A whale surfacing in calm blue ocean water with ripples.
A sperm whale surfaces in calm blue ocean water, showing its head and back.
A whale surfacing in the ocean, showing its back and fin above the water.
A large whale surfacing in the ocean with distant mountains in the background.

FIN WHALE

Balaenoptera physalus

Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is a large species, reaching up to 27 metres in length and making it the second-largest marine mammal in the world. Its sleek, streamlined body allows it to move swiftly through the water. Fin whales have a distinctive asymmetrical coloration on their heads, with a pale right lower jaw and a dark left lower jaw, making them easy to recognize.
This species inhabits deep, offshore waters worldwide and occurs along the southern coast of Portugal. In Faro, sightings peak around springtime, with whales often using the area for feeding. They are usually found alone or in small groups and can perform long dives while searching for prey.
Their diet consists mainly of small schooling fish and plankton, which they filter through their baleen plates. Feeding behaviour includes lunging and gulping, sometimes at the surface. They often feed on their right side, which may result in the left fluke being visible above the water. Fin whales are also frequently observed feeding in association with dolphins and seabirds.

All Baleen whales