Cetaceans of the Azores
Around 90 species of cetaceans — whales, dolphins, and porpoises — inhabit our planet’s seas, oceans, and even some rivers.
In the Azores, 29 species have been officially recorded — an impressive number for such a small region in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Every Trip is Unique
On average, our guests encounter 4 different species per trip (2024-2025), though record days have included up to 9 species in just 3 hours.
In 99% of our excursions, we encounter cetaceans — a testament to the richness and vitality of Azorean waters.
When planning your trip, remember that weekly statistics only offer a small glimpse of the ocean’s reality.
Out here, every day is different — and every encounter is unforgettable.
Learn more
Over 30 Years of Observation and Research
Since 1993, Espaço Talassa has been collecting and organizing data from thousands of trips at sea.
Yet building precise statistics remains complex — each species has its own behaviour, preferred habitat, and migratory rhythm.
For example:
- Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are rarely seen less than three miles from the coast.
- Toothed whales tend to prefer deep offshore waters.
- Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) return to the archipelago around June, when sea temperatures reach 20°C.
Sighting Frequency by Species
Often observed
- Physeter macrocephalus – Sperm whale
- Delphinus delphis – Common dolphin
- Tursiops truncatus – Bottlenose dolphin
- Stenella frontalis – Atlantic spotted dolphin
- Grampus griseus – Risso’s dolphin
- Globicephala macrorhynchus – Short-finned pilot whale
Occasionally observed
- Stenella coeruleoalba – Striped dolphin
- Pseudorca crassidens – False killer whale
- Hyperoodon ampullatus – Northern bottlenose whale
- Ziphius cavirostris – Cuvier’s beaked whale
- Mesoplodon bidens – Sowerby’s beaked whale
- Mesoplodon europaeus – Gervais’ beaked whale
- Balaenoptera musculus – Blue whale
- Balaenoptera physalus – Fin whale
- Balaenoptera borealis – Sei whale
Rarely observed
- Steno bredanensis – Rough-toothed dolphin
- Orcinus orca – Killer whale
- Kogia breviceps – Pygmy sperm whale
- Megaptera novaeangliae – Humpback whale
- Balaenoptera acutorostrata – Minke whale
- Balaenoptera edeni – Bryde’s whale
- Mesoplodon densirostris – Blainville’s beaked whale
- Globicephala melas – Long-finned pilot whale
- Lagenodelphis hosei – Fraser’s dolphin
- Mesoplodon mirus – True’s beaked whale
- Kogia sima – Dwarf sperm whale
- Eubalaena glacialis – Northern right whale
Cetacean Sightings — Espaço Talassa
Historical whale and dolphin sighting records from Pico Island, Azores · 1994–present
Each row shows a species. Each column is a day of the selected month. Cells are split in two: top = AM · bottom = PM. A coloured cell means the species was sighted on that departure.
| Species |
|---|
Seasonal sighting heatmap
% of trips on which each species was sighted — normalised by number of departures per month
Colour intensity = sighting rate (% of departures with at least one sighting). White = never recorded. Best month = highest sighting rate for that species within the selected period.
A departure is counted as successful if at least one cetacean was sighted. AM and PM are counted separately.