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 3 to 4 different species per trip (2024-2025), though record days have included up to 10 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) can be frequently seen just a few miles from the coast, some times very close (less then 3 miles) providing unique and close-up sightings.
- Toothed whales (except Sperm 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
- Grampus griseus – Risso’s dolphin
- Tursiops truncatus – Bottlenose dolphin
- Stenella frontalis – Atlantic spotted dolphin
- Stenella coeruleoalba – Striped dolphin
Occasionally observed
- Globicephala macrorhynchus – Short-finned pilot whale
- Balaenoptera borealis – Sei whale
- Balaenoptera physalus – Fin whale
- Balaenoptera musculus – Blue whale
- Mesoplodon bidens – Sowerby’s beaked whale
- Megaptera novaeangliae – Humpback whale
- Hyperoodon ampullatus – Northern bottlenose whale
- Pseudorca crassidens – False killer whale
- Balaenoptera edeni – Bryde’s whale
Rarely observed
- Ziphius cavirostris – Cuvier’s beaked whale
- Kogia breviceps – Pygmy sperm whale
- Balaenoptera acutorostrata – Minke whale
- Orcinus orca – Killer whale
- Mesoplodon densirostris – Blainville’s beaked whale
- Mesoplodon europaeus – Gervais’ beaked whale
- Globicephala melas – Long-finned pilot whale
- Steno bredanensis – Rough-toothed dolphin
- Lagenodelphis hosei – Fraser’s dolphin
- Mesoplodon mirus – True’s beaked whale
- Kogia sima – Dwarf sperm 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 |
|---|
BW = Bad Weather — departure cancelled due to sea conditions (not counted as a trip).
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.