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Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

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 G4: apparently secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Humpback Whale
Photo: Dr. Louis M. Herman., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Endangered (some populations)[1]
NatureServe global rank
G4 Apparently Secure[2]
Native in
18 states[3]
Longest recorded life
95 years[4]

The Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a large mammal in the whale family Balaenopteridae[5]. Some groups are listed as Endangered or Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act, and NatureServe records it as native in 18 US states and territories[1][6][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Humpback Whale a global rank of G4 (Apparently Secure) and a US national rank of N3 (Vulnerable)[2][7]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[8]. Under the Endangered Species Act, the Western North Pacific group, the Arabian Sea DPS and the Central America DPS are Endangered, and the Mexico DPS is Threatened[1][9][10][6]. Several other groups, including the Hawaii DPS and the West Indies DPS, were removed from the list because they recovered[11][12]. It is also in CITES Appendix I, which sets controls on international trade[13].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Endangered, listed June 2, 1970 (Western North Pacific)
Endangered Species Act[14] Endangered, listed June 2, 1970 (Cape Verde Island/Northwest Africa)
Endangered Species Act[9] Endangered, listed June 2, 1970 (Arabian Sea DPS)
Endangered Species Act[10] Endangered, listed June 2, 1970 (Central America DPS)
Endangered Species Act[6] Threatened, listed June 2, 1970 (Mexico DPS)
Endangered Species Act[15] Delisted after recovery
NatureServe global rank[2] G4 (Apparently Secure)
NatureServe US rank[7] N3 (Vulnerable)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[8] Least concern
CITES (international trade)[13] Appendix I
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[16] 10,000 to 100,000 individuals

Where Humpback Whale lives

NatureServe lists the Humpback Whale as native in 18 US states and territories, including Alaska, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington[3]. Online observation records on GBIF are most numerous for California, Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Washington, but those counts follow where people look and report, not how many whales there are[17].

Alaska: native, state rank S3AKMaine: native, state rank SNRMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank SNRNHWashington: native, state rank S2NWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: native, state rank SNANYMassachusetts: 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 S1NVAMaryland: 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 S1SCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: native, state rank SUGAHawaii: native, state rank SNRHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: native, state rank SNRFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[18].
Show state ranks (18 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlaskaS3Vulnerable
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
DelawareSNANot Applicable
FloridaSNRNot Ranked
GeorgiaSUUnrankable
HawaiiSNRNot Ranked
MaineSNRNot Ranked
MarylandS1Critically Imperiled
MassachusettsS2Imperiled
New HampshireSNRNot Ranked
New JerseyS1Critically Imperiled
New YorkSNANot Applicable
North CarolinaSNANot Applicable
OregonSNANot Applicable
Rhode IslandSNRNNot Ranked (nonbreeding)
South CarolinaS1Critically Imperiled
VirginiaS1NCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
WashingtonS2NImperiled (nonbreeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records the habitat as bays and sounds, near shore waters and the open ocean[19]. In summer the whales are in temperate and subpolar waters[20]. In winter most move to tropical or subtropical waters, and in Hawaii mothers with a calf tend to stay in shallower water than groups without one[20].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[19]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Humpback Whale eats mainly schooling fish and krill, which are tiny shrimp-like animals[21]. NatureServe lists it as a fish eater, an invertebrate eater and a plankton eater[22]. One feeding method is working together to trap prey inside a net of air bubbles[21]. Typical length is 1300 cm (512 in) and typical adult weight is 30000 kg (66139 lb)[23][24]. A female usually has 1 calf[25]. Gestation lasts 342 days[26]. Females reach sexual maturity at 1,643 days old[27]. The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 95 years[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[23] 1300 cm (512 in)
Typical adult weight[24] 30000 kg (66139 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 95 years (wild)
Litter or clutch size[25] 1
Gestation or incubation[26] 342 days
Female maturity[27] 1,643 days (about 4.5 years)
Food habits[22] Piscivore, Invertivore, Planktivore
Active[28] diurnal
Migration[29] long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[30]

  • 80% invertebrates
  • 20% fish

When to look for it

NatureServe calls the Humpback Whale a long-distance migrant, though populations can differ[29]. It spends summer in cooler waters and winter in warmer ones[20]. It is active in the daytime[28]. GBIF records in the United States are highest in July, August and September, which reflects when people look and report[31].

January: 12,771 recordsJanFebruary: 16,149 recordsFebMarch: 14,961 recordsMarApril: 10,264 recordsAprMay: 14,606 recordsMayJune: 19,192 recordsJunJuly: 30,450 recordsJulAugust: 31,616 recordsAugSeptember: 22,389 recordsSepOctober: 15,881 recordsOctNovember: 9,083 recordsNovDecember: 7,449 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[31].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January12,771
February16,149
March14,961
April10,264
May14,606
June19,192
July30,450
August31,616
September22,389
October15,881
November9,083
December7,449

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, Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Washington[17]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Humpback Whale endangered?
It depends on the group. Under the Endangered Species Act, some groups such as the Western North Pacific and Central America DPS are Endangered, the Mexico DPS is Threatened, and others were removed from the list after recovery[1][10][6][11].
Where does the Humpback Whale live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as native in 18 US states and territories, including Alaska, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Washington[3].
What does the Humpback Whale eat?
It eats mainly schooling fish and krill[21]. EltonTraits estimates the diet at 80% invertebrates and 20% fish[30].
How big is a Humpback Whale?
Typical length is 1300 cm (512 in) and typical adult weight is 30000 kg (66139 lb)[23][24].
How long does a Humpback Whale live?
The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 95 years, which is a record and not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Under the US Endangered Species Act, Humpback whale has the status Endangered, listed June 2, 1970 (USFWS ECOS). Listed entity: Western North Pacific. USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Humpback Whale: G4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Humpback 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,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 95 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a mammal in the family Balaenopteridae, order Cetacea. NatureServe Explorer
  6. Under the US Endangered Species Act, Humpback whale has the status Threatened, listed June 2, 1970 (USFWS ECOS). Listed entity: Mexico DPS. USFWS ECOS
  7. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N3 (Vulnerable). NatureServe Explorer
  8. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  9. Under the US Endangered Species Act, Humpback whale has the status Endangered, listed June 2, 1970 (USFWS ECOS). Listed entity: Arabian Sea DPS. USFWS ECOS
  10. Under the US Endangered Species Act, Humpback whale has the status Endangered, listed June 2, 1970 (USFWS ECOS). Listed entity: Central America DPS. USFWS ECOS
  11. USFWS ECOS lists Humpback whale (West Indies DPS) with the status Recovery, meaning it was removed from the endangered species list because it recovered. It was first listed June 2, 1970. USFWS ECOS
  12. USFWS ECOS lists Humpback whale (Hawaii DPS) with the status Recovery, meaning it was removed from the endangered species list because it recovered. It was first listed June 2, 1970. USFWS ECOS
  13. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix I (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  14. Under the US Endangered Species Act, Humpback whale has the status Endangered, listed June 2, 1970 (USFWS ECOS). Listed entity: Cape Verde Island/Northwest Africa. USFWS ECOS
  15. USFWS ECOS lists Humpback whale (Southeastern Pacific DPS) with the status Recovery, meaning it was removed from the endangered species list because it recovered. It was first listed June 2, 1970. USFWS ECOS
  16. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to 100,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  17. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Humpback Whale: California, Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Washington. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  18. NatureServe state ranks for Humpback Whale (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  19. Habitat types NatureServe records for Humpback Whale: Bay/sound, Pelagic, Near shore. NatureServe Explorer
  20. NatureServe notes on habitat for Humpback Whale. NatureServe Explorer
  21. NatureServe notes on food for Humpback Whale. NatureServe Explorer
  22. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Piscivore, Invertivore, Planktivore. NatureServe Explorer
  23. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 1300 cm (512 in). NatureServe Explorer
  24. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 30000 kg (66139 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  25. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 1. AnAge
  26. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 342 days. AnAge
  27. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 1,643 days (about 4.5 years). AnAge
  28. Activity time in EltonTraits 1.0: diurnal. EltonTraits 1.0
  29. NatureServe migration category for Humpback Whale: long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  30. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 80% invertebrates, 20% fish. EltonTraits 1.0
  31. GBIF observation records of Humpback 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: Dr. Louis M. Herman., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.