Baleen Whales

Typically below 5 kHz

The following is a list of Mysticete species monitored by NEFSC Passive Acoustic Branch. Call types that are frequently used to detect specific acoustic events are listed under each specie. This is not meant to be comprehensive of all marine mammal repertoire’s. An acoustic event guide is linked for each specie.

Minke whale

Scientific name: Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Makara species code: MIWH
Call types:

Minke whale pulse train
- Currently includes all pulse train types: constant/slow-down/speed-up
- Makara call-type code: MWPT

Spectrogram image of Minke pulse train

Sei whale

Scientific name: Balaenoptera borealis
Makara species code: SEWH
Call types:

Sei whale 30-80 Hz downsweep
- Sei whale downsweep spanning 80-30Hz, occurs as single downsweeps or repeated 3 - 5 seconds apart as doublets, triplets, or more. If different distinguishable downsweep types are used, please notify PACM group to add call type
- Makara call-type code: SWDS

Spectrogram image of Sei Whale downsweep

Blue whale

Scientific name: Balaenoptera musculus
Makara species code: BLWH
Call types:

Blue whale A/B/AB song
- North Atlantic blue whale song: includes all three call types (A, B, and AB)
- Makara call-type code: BLSONG
Blue whale Arch/D call
- North Atlantic blue whale Arch calls, or D calls
- Makara call-type code: BLARCH
Blue whale mix calls
- North Atlantic blue whale mix of calls including A/B/AB song, Arch calls, and D calls
- Makara call-type code: BLMIX

Spectrogram image of Blue whale A/B/AB song

Fin whale

Scientific name: Balaenoptera physalus
Makara species code: FIWH
Call types:

Fin whale 130-Hz note
- Fin whale 130-Hz note
- Makara call-type code: FWNOTE
Fin whale 20-Hz pulse
- Fin whale 20-Hz pulses (song and non-song)
- Makara call-type code: FWPLS
Fin whale downsweep/ 40-Hz call
- Fin whale downsweep (termed “higher frequency sounds”, “HF downsweep”, or “40-Hz” call): spanning ~75-40 Hz
- Makara call-type code: FWDS
Fin whale mix calls
- Mix off North Atlantic fin whale call types: 20-Hz calls, 130-Hz note, and the higher-frequency downsweeps (~75-40 Hz), also referred to as “40-Hz” calls
- Makara call-type code: FWMIX

Spectrogram image of Fin whale 20-Hz pulse calls

North Atlantic right whale

Scientific name: Eubalaena glacialis
Makara species code: RIWH
Call types:

North Atlantic right whale gunshot
- Right whale gunshot: broadband signal
- Makara call-type code: NARWGUNSHOT
North Atlantic right whale moan
- Right whale moan: typically 100-200 Hz
- Makara call-type code: NARWMOAN
North Atlantic right whale upcall
- Contact-call produced by right whales: typically 100-300 Hz upsweep
- Makara call-type code: NARWUPCALL

Spectrogram image of North Atlantic Right Whale upcalls

Humpback whale

Scientific name: Megaptera novaeangliae
Makara species code: HUWH
Call types:

Humpback whale social
- Humpback whale social calls only
- Makara call-type code: HWSOC
Humpback whale song
- Humpback whale song only
- Makara call-type code: HWSONG
Humpback whale mixed call
- Humpback whale mixed song and social calls
- Makara call-type code: HWMIX