Marine Mammals of the New York Bight

VERY COMMON – The most common large whale found near-shore in the New York Bight. These filter-feeders may also be found feeding well offshore, but may be drawn closer to the beach and urban areas like New York City by forage fish like Atlantic Menhaden. They are primarily dark gray-black, sometimes with white on their bellies. In this part of the world, their pectoral fins are almost entirely white. Humpback Whales are most easily differentiated from other whale species by the dorsal fin on their back, which has a "hump" just in front of it. They also arch their back before a deep dive, sometimes bringing their tail flukes fully out of the water – something other whale species in the New York Bight do not usually do, with the exception of Right Whales. They also have unique heads among whales, covered in bumps or tubercles.

In response to changing ocean conditions and prey availability, Humpback Whales are spending more time south of the Gulf of Maine here in the New York Bight. While many in this population travel to the Caribbean during the winter, researchers are learning that some younger whales may instead stay in the Mid-Atlantic and New York Bight.

Gotham Whale are the curators of the New York City Humpback Whale Catalog, a repository of sightings and identification data for hundreds of whales seen in this region. Many of these individuals are juvenile animals seen near-shore, but we also document adult Humpback Whales and even rare mom-calf pairs. Since 2016, there has been an ongoing Humpback Whale Unusual Mortality Event occurring on the East Coast, with dozens of whales found dead in the New York Bight primarily from shipstrikes.

To spot a Humpback Whale, watch for a bushy spout or blow rising up to 15 feet above the water. If you see a whale splashing or jumping out of the water here in New York or New Jersey, it is probably a Humpback Whale.

COMMON – Common but infrequently seen, Minke Whales are fast, agile, and elusive. They are encountered both near-shore and off-shore, but may only be seen at the surface once or twice before disappearing. Their spouts are also usually undetectable, making them even more difficult to spot. They are dark gray to black in color with a sharp, curved dorsal fin on their lower back. At a quick glance or from a distance, they may be easily mistaken for a dolphin. Rare close encounters may also reveal white patches or "mittens" on their pectoral fins. Minke Whale seasonality in the New York Bight is poorly understood, but they have been documented here throughout the year. Minke Whales are also experiencing an Unusual Mortality Event on the East Coast, attributed mainly to infectious disease and human interactions.

To spot Minke Whales, watch for small dark backs quickly breaking the surface of the water with a curved dorsal fin.

UNCOMMON – The New York Bight is important year-round habitat for Fin Whales. Much more commonly seen off-shore, these behemoths do occasionally wander closer to land. Fin Whales are the second largest whale and the second largest animal to ever live, dwarfed only by the Blue Whale. They are as fast as they are long, maxing out at up to 35 miles per hour. Their speed can make these "greyhounds of the sea" difficult to observe, but their size alone often makes them unmistakable. They have dark backs with pale undersides, and can be positively identified by a pale lower right jaw, an example of asymmetric coloration.

To spot Fin Whales, watch for tall straight spouts reaching up to 40 feet above the water, especially further off-shore. Fin Whales are listed as Federally Endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

RARE – North Atlantic Right Whales can be identified by their lack of dorsal fin. They have entirely dark tail flukes, wide square-ish paddle-like fins, and mostly dark bodies with white patches called "callosities" on their heads.

The most endangered large whale in the North Atlantic, this species historically earned their name for being the "Right Whale" to hunt. By 2025 estimates, there are only 384 individuals in the entire population, and they continue to be threatened by fishing gear entanglements and vessel strikes. Seasonal Management Areas are in place in several areas across the New York Bight during their migratory season from November to April to help protect these whales from ship strikes. However, these whales may be present in our waters at any time: during 2024, a large aggregation of Right Whales spent the summer offshore near Hudson Canyon.

To spot a North Atlantic Right Whale, watch for a bushy V-shaped blow and a large dark body at the surface without a dorsal fin. These whales are listed as Federally Endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Right Whale sightings should be reported immediately to federal authorities: (866) 755-6622

VERY COMMON – The 'stereotypical' dolphin, and probably the New York Bight's most-seen marine mammal. Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphins are light to dark gray with triangular dorsal fins in the middle of their back. They have large, rounded foreheads or "melons," which they use to create sounds for communication and echolocation, a biological sonar used to navigate and forage in dark or murky water. Like many other dolphins, they travel in groups called pods, of which size may vary.

Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphins were formerly considered as a unique "morphotype" comprising a coastal migratory stock of Common Bottlenose Dolphin. In 2022, this population was deemed a distinct species from other Tursiops dolphins found more offshore. Today, Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphins are known for occupying coastal and estuarine habitats. It is not uncommon for these dolphins to be seen in even urban places, including the busy waterways around Manhattan. During the winter, these dolphins migrate south to warmer waters near the Carolinas.

To spot this species, watch for triangular shaped dorsal fins breaking the water. If you see a dolphin from shore in New York or New Jersey during the warm months, it is probably a Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin.

UNCOMMON – In general, it is uncommon to see Short-Beaked Common Dolphins near-shore, but they are commonly seen off-shore year-round. Reports during the late fall and winter suggest that these dolphins may venture closer to shore during these colder months.

Common Dolphins can be differentiated from Bottlenose by the hourglass-like pattern, including a yellow "flash," on their sides. Their bodies are also more streamlined and slender, and despite their name, Short-Beaked Common Dolphins will have a longer, pointier beak or rostrum with more teeth. They also may have a sharper, more falcate dorsal fin, but this shape can vary across individuals of both species.

RARE – An expected but rarely-seen resident of the coastal New York Bight. Their presence in New York and New Jersey is primarily documented through acoustic detections and stranded individuals. These small, elusive cetaceans may somewhat resemble small dolphins, but they have a much shorter, stout dorsal fin in the middle of the back. They also lack the distinctive beak of coastal dolphin species.

Harbor Porpoises are listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the state of New York and a Species Concern Wildlife Species in New Jersey.

VERY COMMON – A common resident of the New York Bight from fall to spring, often seen hauled out on rocks or beaches during low tides. They have round dog-like faces with short snouts and V-shaped nostrils. Their coats can vary in color from gray to brown and may have speckled or spotted patterns.

VERY COMMON – Identify Gray Seals by their elongated horse-like snouts and W-shaped nostrils. Adults are larger than Harbor Seals with a similarly colored gray to brown coat. Their pupping season in this area is from December to February, so young Gray Seals are not an uncommon sight. Like Harbor Seals, they are much more common across the New York Bight from fall to spring.

UNCOMMON – This is an Arctic seal species present in the New York Bight each winter in small numbers. Though babies are all white, adults have a predominantly white body with dark faces and a big dark harp-shaped splotch on their backs. When stressed by human interaction, these seals are known to ingest sand, confusing it for snow or ice and causing digestive issues. Like with other marine mammals, a respectful distance should be maintained to avoid stress and harassment.