With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we’re taking a deep dive into the fascinating (and still mysterious) world of whale courtship! While many behaviors remain elusive, several “charm” rituals are now well documented by researchers: impressive acrobatics, enchanting songs, frantic chases, and powerful shoving matches. All these strategies serve a single purpose: ensuring the survival of the species.
Follow us into the captivating world of marine seduction! 💕
The Blue Whale’s Love Sprint
Among blue whales, females look for agility and strength in a mate. In the fall, blue whales passing through the St. Lawrence may engage in a male vs. male chase to earn the admiration of a female and remain by her side. No dating apps here: just an old fashioned pursuit! 😄
Two males will swim side by side in a fierce contest. Shoving is not only allowed but common, and with mammals weighing 100 to 150 tons, things can get intense! Using their tail and pectoral fins, the contenders push each other around, challenge one another, and try to gain the advantage. The winner earns the escort role: he will follow the female for several days, sometimes even several weeks.
Although the male’s ultimate goal is reproduction, the female does not necessarily choose to mate with the escorting male. Escorting is widespread among whales, whether the female is alone or accompanied by her calf.
Contrary to what one might think, escort males are not the fathers of the calves. Social groups form and disperse long before the calving season, and escorts have no familial ties to the female or her young. Their role is simply to attempt mating while warding off potential rivals.
Humpback Whales: Acrobatics, Songs, and Percussion
Humpback whales are well known for singing during their breeding season. Indeed, these famous whale songs may serve as a true serenade! A fascinating fact: their “refrain” evolves from year to year. It’s not a brand new song each time, but rather a retouched version that gradually changes over time. Even though the exact purpose of the song remains a mystery, one thing is clear: only males sing, which supports the hypothesis that this is a reproductive behavior.
But their performance doesn’t end there! Humpbacks add an entire choreography to the show: spectacular breaches that can reach five meters above the water, and powerful slaps of their pectoral fins that resonate at the surface. Between vocalizations and percussive displays, they certainly know how to catch a female’s attention. As they should, because during the breeding season, competition among males is fierce!
This flurry of activity unfolds within a very particular romantic context. Contrary to what one might think, whales are not monogamous and do not form lasting bonds with their partners. Depending on the species, an individual may stay with the same partner for a season, choose another the following year, or even have multiple partners within the same reproductive period. And when a calf is born, the female alone will care for it.
There’s no doubt about it: between choreography, vocal solos, and wild pursuits, whales certainly know how to put on a show! Courtship among whales may not be simple, but as always, they deliver an impressive performance. 😊
Sources:
Baleines en direct, La St-Valentin selon les préférences des baleines, https://baleinesendirect.org/la-saint-valentin-selon-les-preferences-des-baleines
Baleines en direct, La reproduction, https://baleinesendirect.org/decouvrir/la-vie-des-baleines/comportement/la-reproduction/
One with whales, The Not-So-Tender World of Whale Courtship, https://www.onewithwhales.com/articles/the-not-so-tender-world-of-whale-courtship-humpback-romance-in-rurutu
