Sei whales are one of the baleen whales that visit the Azores during the Spring. Despite seeming to follow the same pattern as the other whales here, the migration routes of Sei whales are not very well known.
With 12 to 21 meters and 15,2 to 30 tons, Sei whales are physically similar to Bryde’s whales and often hard to distinguish at sea. Therefore, the migration patterns of the two species have been confused. However, Sei whales seem to have less extensive migrations than other rorquals, spending the summer in subartic and subantartic areas and the winter in subtropical waters.
Sei whale are one of the fast swimmers being able to reach 55 km per hour! They are possible the fastest whales.
Because they tend to swim close to the surface, we can often track Sei whales from the footprints they leave on the surface.
Did you know that Sei whales get their name for the Norwegian word “seje”? It means pollack and the whales got this name because they are often found in Norway at the same time as the fish 🙂