Sowerby's Beaked Whale
Sowerby's beaked whales, sometimes known as the "North Atlantic beaked whale," are little known members of the beaked whale family, Ziphiidae. The first beaked whale to be discovered, this species prefers the deep, cold, temperate and subarctic waters throughout the North Atlantic Ocean, but has also been reported near the ice pack. Their scientific name, bidens, is derived from the Latin words bi for "two" and dens for "teeth" and refers to the pair of visible teeth that erupt from the lower jaw of mature males.
The beaked whale family is cryptic and skittish. Due to the rarity of sightings at sea, there is little information on the abundance of Sowerby’s beaked whales worldwide.
Like all marine mammals, Sowerby’s beaked whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. They face threats from entanglement in fishing gear and human-caused noise. Sowerby’s beaked whales are considered “data deficient” by the IUCN list of threatened species, meaning that there is not enough information to assess their population status.
NOAA Fisheries estimates population size for Sowerby’s beaked whales in its stock assessment reports. A stock is a group of animals that occupy the same area and interbreed. There is little information on the abundance of this species worldwide. Thus, data are insufficient to estimate population trends.
As adults, Sowerby's beaked whales can reach estimated lengths of 14.5 to 21 feet and weigh 2,200 to 2,900 pounds. Males, which are generally larger, can be distinguished from females and juveniles by a pair of visible teeth that erupt from their slightly arched lower jaw. Females and juveniles also have teeth, but they remain hidden beneath the gum tissue, and their jawline is straight.
Sowerby's beaked whales have a small- to medium-sized body with a very long, slender beak relative to other beaked whales, as well as a bulge on the forehead area. The beak often emerges at a steep angle when surfacing. They have a small, wide-based, slightly hooked dorsal fin located about two-thirds down their back. Most of their body is charcoal gray with a pale underside, and calves are generally darker than adults. The lower jaw is usually light gray or white. This species has less visible scarring than most other beaked whale species.
Sowerby's beaked whales are usually found individually or in small, closely associated groups averaging between three and 10 individuals. Regular dives range from 10 to 15 minutes, but dives of at least 28 minutes and reaching depths up to 4,920 feet have been recorded. While diving, they use suction to feed on small, deep-sea fish and cephalopods (e.g., squid) in deep waters. When surfacing, this species often lifts its head up out of the water at a 45-degree angle.
Many species of beaked whales (especially those in the genus Mesoplodon) are very difficult to distinguish from one another (even when dead) because they lack easily discernible or apparent physical characteristics. At sea, they are challenging to observe and identify to the species level because of their cryptic, skittish behavior; low profile; and a small, inconspicuous blow at the water’s surface. Therefore, much of the available characterization for beaked whales is to the genus level only, and there is relatively little information about most individual species.
Sowerby's beaked whales prefer the deep, cold temperate and subarctic waters off the continental shelf edge of the North Atlantic Ocean but have also been reported near the ice pack. They are distributed throughout the North Atlantic Ocean (30° to 71° North), ranging from the Norwegian Sea, Labrador Sea, Iceland, and Baltic Sea to the north, and waters off the northeast United States, Madeira, and the Canaries to the south.
Sowerby’s beaked whales may be more common in the eastern than the western North Atlantic Ocean. However, they rarely occur in the Mediterranean Sea. Strandings have occurred in Florida and Italy, but these areas are considered outside their normal range. Their distribution may vary depending on the movements of oceanographic currents. It is unknown whether they undertake seasonal movements or migrations.
All Sowerby’s beaked whales are protected under the MMPA. We protect this species by:
- Reducing interactions with commercial and recreational fishing gear.
- Implementing requirements to reduce serious injuries and mortalities.
- Minimizing the effects of vessel disturbance, noise, and other human impacts.
- Educating the public about the threats beaked whales face.
Our research projects have helped us better understand Sowerby’s beaked whales and the challenges they face. Our work includes:
- Stock assessments.
- Acoustic monitoring.
- Shipboard surveys.
Keep Your Distance
Be responsible when viewing marine life in the wild. Observe all large whales from a safe distance of at least 100 yards and limit your time spent observing to 30 minutes or less.
Report Marine Life in Distress
Report a sick, injured, entangled, stranded, or dead animal to make sure professional responders and scientists know about it and can take appropriate action. Numerous organizations around the country are trained and ready to respond.
Learn who you should contact when you encounter a stranded or injured marine animal >
Report a Violation
Call the NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964 to report a federal marine resource violation. This hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days week for anyone in the United States.
You may also contact your closest NOAA Office of Law Enforcement field office during regular business hours.
Sowerby’s beaked whales are protected under the MMPA.
Sowerby's beaked whales, like all marine mammals, are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Reducing Interactions with Fishing Gear
Sowerby’s beaked whales are caught as bycatch in fishing gear, such as driftnets and gillnets, off the U.S. Atlantic coast. NOAA Fisheries is committed to minimizing bycatch in U.S. fisheries to ensure that fisheries remain sustainable and to protect species such as the Sowerby’s beaked whale.
Learn more about bycatch and fisheries interactions
Overseeing Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response
We work with volunteer networks in all coastal states to respond to marine mammal strandings. When stranded animals are found alive, NOAA Fisheries and its partners assess the animal’s health and try to return it to the water. When stranded animals are found dead, our scientists work to understand and investigate the cause of death. Although the cause often remains unknown, scientists can sometimes identify strandings due to disease, harmful algal blooms, vessel strikes, fishing gear entanglements, pollution exposure, and underwater noise. Some strandings can serve as indicators of ocean health, giving insight into larger environmental issues that can have implications for human health and welfare.
Learn more about the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program
Addressing Ocean Noise
NOAA Fisheries is investigating all aspects of acoustic communication and hearing in marine animals, as well as the effects of sound on beaked whale behavior and hearing. For example, the use of at least some types of shipboard echosounders decreases the acoustic detection rates of multiple species of beaked whales, indicating that they change their behavior when they hear these echosounders. In 2016, we issued technical guidance for assessing the effects of anthropogenic sound on marine mammal hearing.
NOAA Fisheries conducts a variety of research on the biology, behavior, and ecology of Sowerby’s beaked whales. The results of this research are used to inform management decisions and enhance protection efforts for this species.
Stock Assessments
Determining the size of Sowerby’s beaked whale populations helps resource managers gauge the success of NOAA Fisheries’ conservation measures. Our scientists collect and present these data in annual stock assessment reports.
Shipboard Studies
NOAA Fisheries conducts research cruises to collect information on beaked whale stocks, including distribution, habitat preferences, and feeding ecology. These studies also help us estimate the abundance of beaked whales. Information from this research can be used in management actions to protect these animals.
Acoustic Science
Our research is also focused on acoustics—using underwater sound to learn more about species. We study the basic acoustic behavior of cetaceans and fish, mapping the acoustic environment and finding better ways to study cetaceans using passive acoustic technologies. For example, we tow hydrophones behind ships to acoustically detect and locate Sowerby’s beaked whales during surveys. We also use archival bottom-mounted recorders to monitor long-term occurrence of the species at specific recording sites. Our acoustic research also assesses the degree to which human-caused activities are changing the underwater soundscape, how these changes may potentially impact marine animals, and what measures can be taken to mitigate these potential impacts.
Sowerby's beaked whales may reach sexual maturity at about age 7, and their breeding season may be from late winter to spring. A sexually mature female will give birth to a single newborn calf that is about 8 to 9 feet long and weighs about 375 pounds. The estimated lifespan of this species is unknown.
Entanglement in Fishing Gear
Sowerby’s beaked whales have become entangled or captured in commercial fishing gear, such as driftnets and gillnets, off the U.S. Atlantic and Canadian coasts.
Ocean Noise
Deep-diving cetaceans like Sowerby's beaked whales rely on sound to feed, communicate, and navigate in the ocean. Sound pollution threatens them by interrupting their normal behavior and driving them away from areas important to their survival.
CITES Appendix II
- Throughout Its Range
MMPA Protected
- Throughout Its Range