Pygmy/dwarf sperm whale

Stats

At a glance

LENGTH

8–11 ft

WEIGHT

300–1,000 lbs (NOAA: dwarf up to 600 lbs, pygmy up to 1,000 lbs)

LIFESPAN

Up to ~23 yrs (NOAA: dwarf 22 yrs, pygmy 23 yrs)

DIET

Squid, octopus, crustaceans and fish, located by echolocation on deep dives

RARITY

Very rare — celebrate

SEASON

Sporadic

Length/weight/lifespan/diet: NOAA Fisheries species page →

How to ID

What to look for

Small, blunt, shark-like head; floats motionless like a log. Cryptic and easily missed.

BEHAVIORS TO WATCH FOR

Logging motionless at the surfaceSinking rather than divingAlmost no visible blow

When

Best months to see

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

Last 30 days

Total seen

Days active

0/30

Last seen

Not seen

DAILY SIGHTING COUNTHOVER A BAR

TODAY

Book

Where to go (operators publish dated sighting reports)

Newport & Long Beach operators share daily trip counts — you can see what was spotted before you book. Other operators don't publish daily reports.

Newport Coastal Adventure

2,900 common dolphins · 1 minke whale

Book Now

Newport Whales

2,900 common dolphins · 1 minke whale

Book Now

Davey's Locker

2,900 common dolphins · 1 minke whale

Book Now

Harbor Breeze

LONG BEACH · No sightings reported yet today

Book Now

Dana Wharf

1 common dolphin

Book Now

San Diego Whale Watch

250 common dolphins

Book Now