Bryde's whale
Balaenoptera edeni
Three head ridges, not one. Only a handful ever confirmed here — often logged as sei.
At a glance
Length/weight/lifespan/diet: NOAA Fisheries species page →
Only two Bryde's whales have been confirmed off southern California in five decades, and the 1963 animal was first logged as a fin whale. Others could never be resolved beyond “sei or Bryde's”, because the two are frequently inseparable at sea.
Smultea et al. 2012, Aquatic Mammals 38(1):92–97 source →
HOW RARITY IS JUDGED →What to look for
Best months to see
Last 30 days
This chart includes numerical reports only. Uncounted sightings do not appear in its totals; see the daily archive for presence reports.
Where to go (operators publish dated sighting reports)
We monitor public trip reports across Newport Beach, Long Beach, Dana Point and San Diego. Reporting schedules vary; summaries show the latest available report. Newport's shared feed is counted once.