Book 6, Question 53
Why Do Some Whales Sing?
Some whales, especially male humpbacks, make long, patterned sounds called songs. Songs may help whales find a mate, or keep in touch across the sea. Water carries sound much farther than air does, so a low note can cross a wide stretch of ocean.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 6
More fun facts
- Whales make sounds to talk to each other, find food and find each other.
- Humpback whales sing complex songs, minke whales quack like ducks and sei whales make low booms.
- Baleen whales push air past a cushion in their voice box, which vibrates and makes very low sounds.
- These whales recycle the same air, so they can sing without breathing in water.
- Whales also slap their tails and fins on the water to send messages.
- Underwater microphones off Washington's Olympic Peninsula have recorded beautiful, mysterious humpback songs.
Sources: NOAA Ocean Service, National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, NOAA
Questions kids ask
How do whales sing underwater?
They push air past a cushion in their voice box, and they recycle that air so they do not breathe in water.