Whales of Húsavík

Long-finned Pilot Whale

Globicephala melas (Traill, 1809)

    • Found in the cold waters of the North Atlantic and the Southern Hemisphere

    • Medium size

    • Black, blackish, or brownish body colouration

    • Rounded, bulbous melon

    • Indistinct beak

    • Broad-based, backswept dorsal fin far forward

    • Small to large groups

    • In Iceland, the subspecies of long-finned pilot whale commonly sighted is generally referred to as North Atlantic Long-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala melas melas)

    • There is also some evidence that the North Atlantic subspecies may consist of two ecotypes, one in the NE Atlantic and another in NW Atlantic

  • On average:

    • Male: 4 to 6,7 m in length

    • Female: 3,8 to 5,7 m in length

    • Approximate weight: ca. 1,3 to 2,3 tonnes

    Males are usually up to ca. 1 m longer than females

    • Dive time is typically 2-12 minutes

    • Maximum recorded dive time was 18 minutes

  • Average 60 years for males, and 35–45 years for females

    • IS: Grindhvalur

    • DE: Grindwal

    • FR: Globicéphale commun

    • IT: Globicefalo

    • ES: Calderón común

    • PT: Baleia piloto-de-aleta-longa

    • PL: Grindwal długopłetwy

Pilot Whales in Iceland

Long-finned pilot whales are defined by their social bonds. Globicephala melas is a medium-sized toothed whale that travels in cohesive groups, often maintaining tight formations at the surface. In Iceland, they are typically found in deeper offshore waters but may occasionally be seen in areas like Skjálfandi Bay.

Their diet consists mainly of squid and fish, and they are capable of deep dives in search of prey. Like other toothed whales, they use echolocation to navigate and hunt.

At the surface, pilot whales appear calm and deliberate. Groups move together, surfacing in synchrony, often giving the impression of a single, coordinated unit. Their rounded head, or melon, and dark body are characteristic features.

Social structure is central to their behaviour. Pods can consist of dozens of individuals, and strong bonds between members mean they often stay together even under stress. This cohesion is thought to play a role in the species’ tendency toward mass strandings.

Encounters with pilot whales are less about individual animals and more about the group as a whole, a collective presence moving through the water.