beluga whales

LIVE BELUGA WHALE WEBCAM IN CANADA

  • Local Time
  • Location: Churchill, Canada
  • Source: Explore Oceans
  • Info: OFF SEASON HIGHLIGHTS SHOWING
    Live Beluga whale webcam in Churchill, Canada. The webcam is positioned underwater on the Beluga Boat in the Churchill River Estuary where every summer around 57,000 beluga whales travel to these warm waters.

More info: Beluga whales are mostly found in the Arctic Ocean and are able to live in water temperatures of zero degrees Celsius but when the ocean starts to freeze, many migrate south to slightly warmer waters.

The beluga, or white whale, is one of the smallest species of whale and is easily identifiable by its colour. The word "beluga" comes from the Russian word for "white." Belugas are related to another type of white whale — the "unicorn" whale known as the narwhal. Another distinguishing feature is their large bulbous forehead called a "melon” which is flexible and able to change shape allowing them to make different facial expressions. Beluga whales can produce a series of chirps, clicks, whistles and squeals, which give the beluga its other name, "the canary of the sea." These sounds are important messages of communication. The melon also aids in echolocation.

Around 40 percent of the white whale’s body weight is blubber, which keeps them warm and stores energy. Belugas feed on a variety of fish species, such as salmon and herring, as well as shrimp, crabs and mollusks. They eat around 50 to 60 lbs. (22.7 to 27 kg) of food a day. All of this food is swallowed whole and their teeth are just used for grabbing and holding their prey.