Canadian wildlife · Drawing 27 of 40
Humpback Whale
On the coasts and in the ocean
The humpback whale is a large whale with long flippers. It visits Canadian waters to feed on small fish and tiny animals called krill.
Did you know?
Markings under its tail help researchers recognize individual whales.
Look together
Where can you see its long flippers?
An idea to try
Draw two whale tails with different patterns and give each a name.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
Scientific name: Megaptera novaeangliae. Where it lives: Canadian Pacific and Atlantic waters, including seasonal feeding areas. What it eats: Small fish and krill. Researchers compare photographs of the underside of the tail. Its shape, colours and scars help them follow the movements of the same whale.
Look together: Where can you see its long flippers? Draw two whale tails with different patterns and give each a name.
Sources and illustration notes (3)
Simplified drawing for colouring. Coat, feather or skin markings are left white so children can choose their colours. Proportions and details are not a scientific identification plate.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. Source titles appear in their original language; some linked pages are in French.
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada — Humpback Whale CatalogueIndividual identification using fluke markings and seasonal movement.
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada — Humpback Whale identificationCanadian Atlantic occurrence, long flippers and tail patterns.
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada — Marine mammal identification guideKrill and schooling-fish diet.
Source review: 2026-09-30. Illustrations are simplified for colouring.
