Orcas and humpback whales: how to tell them apart
Both species frequent the same fjords, often at the same time. A few markers are enough to tell them apart from the deck, even at a distance.
In the fjords of Skjervøy both species follow the same herring and cross paths regularly. From the deck, a few hundred metres away and in low light, you often have to decide within seconds.
The blow: the first clue, often from a distance
It is usually what you see first. A humpback's blow is tall and broad, a column clearly visible in the cold air. An orca's is far more discreet, lower and briefer.
If you see a plume rising sharply, look for a humpback. If the blow is flat and vanishes quickly, think orca.
The dorsal fin: the most reliable marker
- Orca: a tall, well-defined, almost triangular fin. On an adult male it becomes spectacular, very straight and upright; on females and young it stays shorter and curved
- Humpback: a small, stubby fin sitting on the characteristic hump that gives the animal its name
It is the criterion that settles the question fastest, including at a distance.
Colour and silhouette
An orca is instantly recognisable: crisp black and white, with the pale patch behind the eye and a clearly defined white flank. A humpback is dark and bulkier, with very long pectoral fins that are often pale — the longest in the animal world relative to body size.
Behaviour, once close to the boat
- Orcas travel as a family group, in coordinated fashion, often breathing within seconds of one another
- Humpbacks are more often alone or in pairs, with longer dives
- A tail lifted clear of the water before a deep dive is typical of humpbacks; orcas do not do it the same way
Why both are there at the same time
Both species exploit the same resource: the herring overwintering in the fjords. Orcas gather them into a tight ball near the surface and feed in turns; humpbacks often take advantage of these concentrations with a completely different technique — a single pass through the shoal with the mouth open.
Seeing both on the same outing is not unusual. It is one of the attractions of the area, which we cover on our page about orcas in Norway.
Tempted by the trip?
The full trip is described on the trip page, and dates are set with you.