Studies have discovered that Humpback whales sing songs composed of an ordered sequence
of musical sounds, much like a songbird. The singing whales are thought to be solitary males
perhaps competing with other males. Each song can last up to 35 minutes and has a definite
beginning and end. Themes from previous years are often repeated, but the songs seem to change
from breeding season to breeding season. The whales sing mainly when in shallow coastal waters
where the sound can travel more than 114 miles (185 km). Scientists studying whale song can
identify individuals by their unique sounds.
