Bryde's whale: the whale that chases sardines
The Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) is a whale of about 13,000 kg that in the Gulf of California feeds mainly on schooling fish, mostly at dawn and dusk, usually alone or in small groups [1]. In La Paz Bay more are seen during La Niña, when sardines are distributed farther south, and fewer during El Niño [2].
Of all Baja California's whales, the Bryde's is the least famous. It doesn't make a spectacular migration or have a fixed season. But if there are sardines, it's probably nearby.
A fish whale, not a krill whale
Between 1983 and 1986, biologist Bernie Tershy studied four whale species in the Canal de Ballenas, Gulf of California. He found a key difference between the two most common ones [1]:
| Bryde's whale | Fin whale | |
|---|---|---|
| Approximate weight | 13,000 kg | 47,000 kg |
| What it eats | Mainly schooling fish | Only seen eating krill |
| When most abundant | Summer and autumn, when fish concentrate | Winter and spring, when krill is abundant |
| Feeding time | More at dawn and dusk | All day |
| Social life | Fairly resident; usually alone or in small groups | Transient; in larger groups |
Table source: Tershy (1992) [1].
It follows the sardine, not the calendar
A study of monthly records from 1988 to 2006 in La Paz Bay found that the Bryde's whale has no well-defined seasonal pattern. Instead, many more whales were seen during La Niña, when the Gulf's sardine population is distributed farther south, and fewer during El Niño and neutral years [2]. In other words: its presence depends on where its food is.
Can you see it on the Sardine Run?
Sometimes. On our Pacific trips, some days a Bryde's whale shows up feeding near the schools. It can't be guaranteed, but when it happens it's one of the most impressive moments of the day.
Meet the others in whales you can see in Baja California Sur.
Experience it with Keabelmet
Frequently asked questions
When can you see Bryde's whales in La Paz?
They have no well-defined season; more are seen during La Niña, when sardines are distributed farther south [2].
How much does a Bryde's whale weigh?
About 13,000 kg in the Gulf of California [1].
Scientific sources
The wildlife, season and geography facts in this article come from these publications. The [n] citations in the text link here.
- Tershy, B. R. (1992). Body size, diet, habitat use, and social behavior of Balaenoptera whales in the Gulf of California. Journal of Mammalogy 73(3): 477–486. doi.org/10.2307/1382013
- Salvadeo, C., Flores-Ramírez, S., Gómez-Gallardo, A., MacLeod, C., Lluch-Belda, D., Jaume-Schinkel, S. & Urbán R., J. (2011). Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) in the southwestern Gulf of California: relationship with ENSO variability and prey availability. Ciencias Marinas 37(2): 215–225. doi.org/10.7773/cm.v37i2.1840
- Viloria-Gómora, L., Urbán R., J., León-López, B. & Romero-Vivas, E. (2021). Geographic variation in Bryde’s whale Be4 calls in the Gulf of California: an insight to population dynamics. Frontiers in Marine Science 8: 651469. doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.651469
