The powerful sounds made by Blue Whales help them communicate with partners or signal the discovery of abundant food.
Whale songs are far removed from the singing that humans are used to. Unlike our musical sounds, those produced by whales are a complex range of vocalisations that include groans, clicks and whistles and that can sound like anything from the mooing of a cow to the twitter of a bird. These vocalisations can be so powerful that they can be heard as far as 10km (6 miles) away, and can last for half an hour at a time.
But while they may not be exactly dancing material, whale songs are critical for communication: between males and females during mating, or among a school of whales migrating.
Researchers have found that blue whales have stopped singing at specific times. Their eerie quietness, scientists say, is a signal that ocean life is changing fundamentally.
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) August 8, 2025
So, why have blue whales stopped singing? https://t.co/OFEQa1PwYE pic.twitter.com/F7AFJhDcpy
