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Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Mammal · family Balaenopteridae · order Cetacea

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G3: vulnerable[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Fin Whale
Photo: Aqqa Rosing-Asvid - Visit Greenland, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Endangered[1]
NatureServe global rank
G3 Vulnerable[2]
Native in
18 states[3]
Longest recorded life
114 years[4]

The Fin Whale (also called the Finback Whale) is a large sea mammal in the family Balaenopteridae[5][6]. It is listed as Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act and is recorded as native in 18 US states and territories[1][3].

Conservation status

Under the US Endangered Species Act, the Fin Whale has the status Endangered, listed June 2, 1970[1]. NatureServe gives it a global rank of G3, which it describes as Vulnerable, and a US national rank of N2, which it describes as Imperiled[2][7]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Vulnerable[8]. It is also in CITES Appendix I, which sets controls on international trade[9]. NatureServe estimates the global adult population at 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals[10].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Endangered, listed June 2, 1970
NatureServe global rank[2] G3 (Vulnerable)
NatureServe US rank[7] N2 (Imperiled)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[8] Vulnerable
CITES (international trade)[9] Appendix I
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[10] 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Fin Whale lives

NatureServe lists the Fin Whale as native in 18 US states and territories[3]. On the Pacific side these are Alaska, California, Hawaii and Oregon[3]. On the Atlantic and Gulf side they include Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and other states in the full list[3]. A state list shows where NatureServe records the species, not where you are likely to see it. On GBIF, the states with the most observation records are California, Massachusetts, Alaska, Virginia and Maine, but those counts follow where people look and report[11].

Alaska: native, state rank S3AKMaine: native, state rank SNRMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank SNRNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: native, state rank S1NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S2MAOregon: native, state rank SNAORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: native, state rank S1NJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: native, state rank SNRNRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: native, state rank SNAVAMaryland: native, state rank S1MDDelaware: native, state rank SNADEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: native, state rank SNANCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S2SCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: native, state rank SNRGAHawaii: native, state rank SNRHITexas: native, state rank S1TXFlorida: native, state rank SNRFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[12].
Show state ranks (18 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlaskaS3Vulnerable
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
DelawareSNANot Applicable
FloridaSNRNot Ranked
GeorgiaSNRNot Ranked
HawaiiSNRNot Ranked
MaineSNRNot Ranked
MarylandS1Critically Imperiled
MassachusettsS2Imperiled
New HampshireSNRNot Ranked
New JerseyS1Critically Imperiled
New YorkS1Critically Imperiled
North CarolinaSNANot Applicable
OregonSNANot Applicable
Rhode IslandSNRNNot Ranked (nonbreeding)
South CarolinaS2Imperiled
TexasS1Critically Imperiled
VirginiaSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records the habitat of the Fin Whale as pelagic, which means the open ocean[13]. Its notes say the whale is usually most numerous well out to sea, 25 miles or more from land[14]. In the western Atlantic in summer, it is found mainly over the continental shelf, in water 50 to 100 fathoms deep[14]. Young whales are born in the warmer waters at lower latitudes[14].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[13]

Size, diet and lifespan

NatureServe records a typical length of 2500 cm (984 in) and a typical adult weight of 87000 kg (191802 lb)[15][16]. Adults eat fish and small animals without backbones[17]. In the North Atlantic, the main foods are fishes such as capelin, herring and sand launce, plus krill and tiny crustaceans called copepods[18]. In the Southern Ocean, the main food is krill[18]. One estimate puts the diet at 70% invertebrates and 30% fish[19]. A female usually has 1 young at a time after a gestation of 342 days[20][21]. The longest recorded lifespan is 114 years in the wild, which is a record and not a typical lifespan[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[15] 2500 cm (984 in)
Typical adult weight[16] 87000 kg (191802 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 114 years (wild)
Litter or clutch size[20] 1
Gestation or incubation[21] 342 days
Female maturity[22] 2,701 days (about 7.4 years)
Food habits[17] Piscivore, Invertivore
Active[23] diurnal
Migration[24] long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[19]

  • 70% invertebrates
  • 30% fish

When to look for it

NatureServe lists the Fin Whale as a long-distance migrant, and it notes that populations can differ[24]. Its notes say young are born in warmer waters at lower latitudes[14]. GBIF observation records in the United States are highest in December, January and February, and far fewer records fall in the middle of the year[25]. These records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[25].

January: 66,464 recordsJanFebruary: 22,706 recordsFebMarch: 7,207 recordsMarApril: 6,688 recordsAprMay: 2,677 recordsMayJune: 2,404 recordsJunJuly: 4,162 recordsJulAugust: 2,824 recordsAugSeptember: 1,776 recordsSepOctober: 1,949 recordsOctNovember: 9,916 recordsNovDecember: 73,595 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[25].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January66,464
February22,706
March7,207
April6,688
May2,677
June2,404
July4,162
August2,824
September1,776
October1,949
November9,916
December73,595

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Massachusetts, Alaska, Virginia, Maine[11]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Fin Whale endangered?
Yes, under the US Endangered Species Act it has the status Endangered, listed June 2, 1970[1]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Vulnerable[8].
Where does the Fin Whale live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 18 US states and territories, including Alaska, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Florida[3]. It lives in the open ocean, often far from shore[13][14].
What does the Fin Whale eat?
In the North Atlantic it eats fishes such as capelin and herring, plus krill and tiny crustaceans called copepods[18]. In the Southern Ocean, krill is the main food[18].
How big is the Fin Whale?
NatureServe records a typical length of 2500 cm (984 in) and a typical adult weight of 87000 kg (191802 lb)[15][16].
How long does the Fin Whale live?
The longest recorded lifespan is 114 years in the wild[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Under the US Endangered Species Act, Finback whale has the status Endangered, listed June 2, 1970 (USFWS ECOS). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Fin Whale: G3 (Vulnerable). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Fin Whale as native in 18 US states and territories: Alaska, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 114 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is a mammal in the family Balaenopteridae, order Cetacea. NatureServe Explorer
  6. Other English names listed by NatureServe for Fin Whale: Finback Whale. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N2 (Imperiled). NatureServe Explorer
  8. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Vulnerable. NatureServe Explorer
  9. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix I (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  11. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Fin Whale: California, Massachusetts, Alaska, Virginia, Maine. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  12. NatureServe state ranks for Fin Whale (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  13. Habitat types NatureServe records for Fin Whale: Pelagic. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on habitat for Fin Whale. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 2500 cm (984 in). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 87000 kg (191802 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Piscivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  18. NatureServe notes on food for Fin Whale. NatureServe Explorer
  19. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 70% invertebrates, 30% fish. EltonTraits 1.0
  20. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 1. AnAge
  21. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 342 days. AnAge
  22. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 2,701 days (about 7.4 years). AnAge
  23. Activity time in EltonTraits 1.0: diurnal. EltonTraits 1.0
  24. NatureServe migration category for Fin Whale: long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  25. GBIF observation records of Fin Whale in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Aqqa Rosing-Asvid - Visit Greenland, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.