Where else would a whale tell you their life story?
Every year, Newfoundland and Labrador hosts the world's largest population of humpbacks. So we've gotten to know them pretty well. How's that? A humpback's tail (or "fluke") markings are as unique as our fingerprints. Which means all it takes is a photo to know exactly who they are — and everywhere else they've been identified.
Upload your fluke photos to take a deeper dive into the world of humpbacks. Learn their name, their story — and even contribute to citizen science.
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Top Whale Tales
Say hello to some of the most interesting visitors to our coasts.
Esker
Last spotted September 16, 2022
Beneath the blush of a February sunrise, Esker the humpback sauntered through the balmy waters off the Dominican Republic, lively as a puffin at a capelin roll. She had a fondness for both the tropical breezes and the brisk northern air, never quite choosing just one favourite.
Micheal
Last spotted July 27, 2022
On an ordinary July morning in Labrador, when the chilly breeze turned the sea glassy and clear, there was a ripple of something special—Micheal had returned to northern waters. There’s a peculiar kind of magic in these bays, best described by the way a whale like Micheal slides through them, as if the salt and spray know his name better than most.
Dancer
Last spotted June 9, 2026
There’s a special kind of sparkle in the Atlantic air when a whale with style graces the shoreline, and Dancer is proof of how the ocean gets in on the festivities. With a fluke patterned like a figure mid-twirl, Dancer brings a splash of theatre to the northern seas along the mosaic of North America’s eastern edge.
Brentley
Last spotted June 8, 2017
Sometimes, the sea keeps its best secrets hidden for years, only to reveal them with a splash when you least expect it. Picture a morning where the salt air curls around your nose and distant seabirds trade gossip on the wind. Into this scene glides Brentley, a humpback who reminds us that wanderers often have the grandest tales.
Brett
Last spotted June 21, 2026
Beneath the gull-crowded cliffs and lichen-painted rocks of Newfoundland and Labrador, there’s a certain whale with a hop in his fluke—Brett, the gentle lad with a taste for adventure and a knack for surprise appearances. The sea’s tall tales often start with mist on the waves and a hush among the tour boats, but with Brett about, there’s always a touch more excitement woven into every salt-drenched breeze.
Erica
Last spotted June 23, 2026
Sunlight sparkled on the North Atlantic, and somewhere off the rugged coast, Erica swam with a quiet assurance—a regular visitor to our chilly, fish-filled waters and a true wanderer of the sea. Some whales grace us for a fleeting summer, but Erica turns up again and again, as if drawn back by memories stitched into every breaking wave.
Eleanor
Last spotted July 9, 2026
Mist curled along the sea's edge as Eleanor surfaced, her broad back breaking the morning calm near Cape Bonavista. It was July, and the capelin rolled in thick, sending seabirds into a frenzy. Eleanor, ever the seasoned traveller, had company—a little calf at her side, rolling and splashing in her wake. Motherhood, it seemed, suited her.
Kyle
Last spotted August 10, 2025
There’s a special kind of magic in the cool, northern air when the wildflowers bow to the salty breeze, and Kyle the humpback makes his entrance. Some folk come for the iceberg spotting or a dish of touton, but the real show often glides just beneath the waves, tail flicking a silent hello.
Hetta
Last spotted July 11, 2025
Fog can sneak in thick along the cliffs, but sometimes a whale seems to know exactly where the sun will break through. Hetta, a grand dame of the North Atlantic, has a knack for showing up just where the light catches the spray, making every sighting of her a little bit magical.
Meredith
Last spotted July 13, 2025
With a breeze full of salt and the sunlight flipping silver on the chop, every day promises something new in Newfoundland’s bays. There are characters who know just how to make an entrance, swimming into sight with all the confidence of a seasoned traveller—and none does it quite like Meredith.
Tiffany
Last spotted August 2, 2025
Beneath a sky as changeable as the North Atlantic itself, Tiffany cut a confident figure in the rolling June swell. Some whales linger on the ragged edges of memory, but Tiffany seemed content to glide right at the water’s edge, delighting those who’d made the long trip to St. Vincent’s for the privilege of her company.
Lottie
Last spotted July 3, 2026
Clouds hung low over Witless Bay when Lottie first caught someone’s eye, her silhouette gliding like a grand ship through the green depths. There's a certain bounce to her travels—perhaps the liveliness of the Atlantic gave her a bit of extra spring.
Eunice
Last spotted June 19, 2013
There’s a certain kind of magic to July on Witless Bay—a shimmer in the air and laughter in the waves, where the sea’s bustle peaks with capelin and the keen hopes of bird and beast alike. Into this vibrant commotion arrives Eunice, a wise and weathered matron carried by memory and tide.
Heather
Last spotted July 24, 2025
On a day when the sea was dotted with capelin and the sun played hide-and-seek behind gentle clouds, Heather slipped through the cool Atlantic waters like a spirit of summer. There's always been a certain grace about her—steady, calm, and a touch mysterious, as if she’s quietly mapping every cove and inlet for herself.
Alyssa
Last spotted July 8, 2025
On a clear morning when the capelin were rolling and the sun tossed gold onto Witless Bay, a graceful visitor returned—Alyssa, known to leave a splash of excitement behind her.
Chantelle
Last spotted July 18, 2025
Some whales glide through history like well-loved melodies, popping up where you least expect them. Chantelle, with the breadth of ocean woven in her story, has left more than a sprinkle of wonder in the chilly air of Newfoundland and the sunlit blue of the Dominican Republic.
Adalyn
Last spotted July 27, 2026
The ocean held a lively sparkle the morning Adalyn first left her mark—a playful humpback weaving her way through the cool blue off Witless Bay. There's an unmistakable magic about the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador in July, with capelin flashing in silver waves and the air scented with salt and wildflowers.
Darlene
Last spotted July 26, 2026
If you’ve ever gazed over the edge of a Newfoundland and Labrador cliff on a sun-bright July day, you might’ve spotted a flash of white rising between the hummocks of blue—a sure sign that Darlene is passing through. With an easygoing grace, she threads the northern waters and glides south before winter even thinks to knock. There’s an art to her travels, like a wanderer who never takes the same trail home twice.
Hayley
Last spotted July 1, 2026
Sunlight spilled across the slate-blue sea, the sort of morning that invites hope beneath a cool Atlantic breeze. Out there, somewhere in the broad swells between shoals and shorebirds, Hayley made her gentle entrance, gliding with the calm certainty of a regular summer visitor returning home.
Lenny
Last spotted August 6, 2025
On a sunlit morning when the capelin rolled and the air tasted of salt and possibility, Lenny the humpback drifted into New Harbour like he owned the place.
Thora
Last spotted July 31, 2025
When the capelin roll and the sun shimmies over the Atlantic, it’s just the sort of morning a whale like Thora might favour—playful breezes and salt air thick with promise. Imagine the blue reaching to the horizon, and a flash of white fluke heralding another wanderer in Witless Bay.
Iris May
Last spotted July 11, 2025
Days on the coast can pass in the blink of an eye, with the salt breeze ruffling hair and the sound of gulls leading to more daydreams than schedules. But now and then, stories reach shore with a twist of magic—like the tale of Iris May, a whale who seems to pop into our lives just when we’ve almost forgotten to look.
Ecume
Last spotted July 24, 2025
There’s something enchanting about old friends showing up when you least expect them. One summer, under the wide July sky, a broad tail flecked with foam appeared off the coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence—a whale known as Ecume, whose name brings to mind the frothy sea itself.
Ryan
Last spotted July 5, 2026
Some summer mornings, the fog on Newfoundland and Labrador’s coast hangs so thick that even the gulls seem to wait for the curtain to lift. But for Ryan, a determined and spirited humpback, that’s just an invitation to explore another day.
Christine
Last spotted July 4, 2025
Under the cerulean sweep of July’s sky, Christine carved her way through cool Atlantic waters, a moving shape in a patchwork of light and shadow just off the Newfoundland coast.
Courtney
Last spotted August 14, 2020
With a playful slosh and a flash of white, Courtney, the ever-bold matron of the bay, spent her summers turning Witless Bay’s calm into a lively stage. There's a thrill that comes with spotting her, like stumbling upon a secret cove or a hidden trail only whispered about between old friends.
Boyd
Last spotted July 2, 2022
Boyd carries with him the kind of wanderlust only a few ever truly know. One year he’ll make a grand appearance in Trinity Bay, then the next—he’s halfway across the Atlantic. There’s no real pattern you can draw, just a sense that Boyd is always looking for what’s next.
Lilly
Last spotted July 5, 2025
It was a glorious summer morning when Lilly surfaced, her sleek form cutting a gentle arc through sun-speckled waters. There’s something about the bays of Newfoundland—a patchwork of deep blue and rolling fog—that makes each whale’s arrival feel like an old friend’s greeting, and Lilly’s visits have been just that: a splash of joy amid the salt-scented air.
Joe
Last spotted July 16, 2025
Not every day on the water feels the same; some hold a promise of surprise—a flash of a fluke or a curious spout where least expected. On a quiet August day in Witless Bay, there was Joe, cutting through the cool saltwater like he had all the time in the world.
Marnie
Last spotted June 7, 2022
On a day when sunlight glimmered like scattered coins across the South Arm, the sea played host to a remarkable sight. Among the kelp and rolling breakers, Marnie swept her tail with a nonchalance only a seasoned traveller could muster.
Cannon
Last spotted July 13, 2026
With the summer sun glinting off the Atlantic, Cannon made his grand entrance near Twillingate, where icebergs drift like sleepy islands and puffins peer down from their cliffs. The sea air that day was ripe with excitement—a perfect backdrop for a whale known for his punctual surprises.
A humpback's tail is a wide, powerful fin. It's what makes them such great swimmers, and they typically raise them out of the water right before they dive deep. What makes their flukes special among other whales are the markings on the underside: a mix of dark and light shapes that are speckled, splotchy, or otherwise unique. Those markings, combined with the tail's shape, are what make every humpback individually identifiable.
Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the best places in the world for whale watching. Especially humpbacks, who visit every year from May-September. They can often be seen from land, or get even closer with one of our many whale watching boat tours. Discover the best places in the province to spot them or start planning your trip today to see the magic in person.
Yes! One of the most exciting things about Hello Humpback's collaboration with our partner, Happywhale, is that no humpback's story is ever complete. Once you read a whale's story, submit your photo. It will become part of their sighting data and add another chapter. You can even follow a whale for updates when your sighting gets added — as well as those from anyone else who spots that same whale in the future!
Yes, please do! You can upload fluke photos from any year, even decades ago. When you submit your sighting data (the year and general location are all that's needed), your encounter will be written into the whale's story — and maybe even fill in some missing details! Past data also helps researchers track individual whales, uncover migration stories, and reconnect with whales that may not have been seen for years.
Every year, Newfoundland and Labrador welcomes minke, fin, pothead, sperm and even orca whales into our waters. But with more than 10,000 humpbacks, it's hard not to spot one. That's why we're called the "Humpback Capital of the World."
And while Happywhale does identify several whale species, their most robust database is for humpback whales. Got a great shot of a tail, but not sure if it's a humpback fluke? Upload it anyway — you may be able to say "hello."
A citizen scientist is anyone who voluntarily contributes to science by collecting data, making observations, or reporting findings, often by collaborating with scientific institutions or professionals.
Citizen science allows everyday people to participate in actual research, like identifying whales and their sightings. When you upload your photos to Happywhale, you help researchers learn more about individual whales and their movements, which makes you a scientist — no lab coat required!
Happywhale and Hello Humpback are partners, and both empower anyone to learn more about whales and contribute to whale science.
Happywhale.com is a global platform where users upload photos of marine mammals (especially humpbacks) to identify individuals and log their movements through the world's oceans. Image recognition technology compares fluke photos to their database of more than 20,000 humpbacks, with records dating back to the 1970s.
HelloHumpback.ca inspires travellers to upload whale tail photos taken in Newfoundland and Labrador, and tells the real stories of the whales spotted here based on their sighting history in Happywhale's scientific database.
Every encounter with a whale is a gift. To protect these incredible creatures and their habitat, we ask all whale watchers to do so responsibly. Keep your distance, minimize noise, and never feed or touch wildlife. Choose a whale watching tour operator that is registered and listed on NewfoundlandLabrador.com. Responsible tourism ensures whales remain safe and future generations get to enjoy them too.
Hello Humpback's stories are written by a meticulously trained AI model. Our story generator has lots of practice interpreting real dates and locations within Happywhale's scientific database, and uses that data to craft the unique, true story of every individual humpback spotted here in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Hello Humpback also accesses the same image recognition technology used by Happywhale's own researchers to analyze travellers' fluke photos to find a match among the thousands of whales logged in the database.
Turning travellers into citizen scientists.
Hello Humpback is a collaboration between Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism and Happywhale, an organization collecting and organizing sighting data to help the world's ocean be better understood, appreciated, and protected through accessible science. Together, we're using creative technology to connect researchers and whale enthusiasts.
Each whale's story is based entirely on real sighting dates and locations. Some details are added by our AI story generator, like assigning pronouns to whales logged without a specified gender, or if the sea was calm or rollicking on a given day. Because around here, we never pass up the chance to comment on the weather.