The Beluga Whale

Beluga whales, often called “sea canaries,” are famous for their bright white color and high-pitched chirps. But here’s a little-known fact — they’re born gray! Baby belugas stay gray or brown for up to five years before turning white as adults. This gradual color change helps them camouflage in Arctic waters while they grow.

Belugas are the only whales with flexible necks. Their seven neck vertebrae aren’t fused like most other cetaceans, so they can nod, turn their heads, and even look behind them — something most whales can’t do. This helps them navigate around sea ice and hunt in tight spaces under frozen surfaces.

Unlike most whales that live in deep open water, belugas love shallow coastal areas and even swim up rivers. Some populations have been found hundreds of miles inland in freshwater. They’re also known to play with objects like wood, seaweed, and even bubbles — scientists think they may do it just for fun.

Belugas can change the shape of their faces! Thanks to a soft, muscular forehead organ called the “melon,” they can make expressive faces and direct their echolocation clicks. People have described them as the most “human-like” whales because of their smiles and ability to mimic speech — yes, some belugas have copied human words and even their names.

They use echolocation not just to find prey but to map their icy environment. They send out sound pulses and interpret the returning echoes — even being able to “see” breathing holes in ice. Their vision isn’t great underwater, but their hearing is among the sharpest of any marine mammal.

Every summer, thousands of belugas gather in river estuaries in the Arctic for what seems like a social “vacation.” Scientists think they molt there — rubbing against pebbles to shed old skin — and use the warmer freshwater to heal from cold injuries. These massive gatherings can look like white clouds moving through the water.

Belugas are highly social and use over 50 different types of sounds — from clicks and whistles to squeaks and trills. Their vocal range is so wide that early sailors thought the Arctic was haunted because of the eerie noises echoing through the ice. These “songs” help them communicate, navigate, and bond within pods that can reach up to 100 whales.