Massive sea creature caught singing off Hawaii coast. Hear the ‘soulful performer’

During a survey, researchers got the chance to listen to a sea creature being a “soulful performer” off the coast of Hawaii.

Members of the University of Hawaii Marine Mammal Research Program were boating in Wailuku waters off Maui when they captured underwater video of a humpback whale singing, according to a Jan. 27 Facebook post by the Pacific Whale Foundation.

The high-pitched singing can be heard, the “awe-inspiring” video showed.

The pitches change from low to high before a quick glimpse of the whale can be seen in the video, the video showed.

Researchers determined the entertainer was male, as only males sing.

The “powerful” singing’s vibrations were felt through the feet of the researchers, they said.

Whales’ singing can be described as “pulsed calls,” “whistles” or “clicks,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They use the singing as a means to communicate, even to determine whether another animal is friendly or predatory.

They usually sound like screams or squeaks to the human ear, but these different “dialects” have been found to be present between different pods, the NOAA said.

The “incredible” songs of the humpbacks “evolve over time, spreading through cultural exchange as whale populations interact,” researchers said.

This story was originally published January 28, 2025 at 9:44 AM with the headline "Massive sea creature caught singing off Hawaii coast. Hear the ‘soulful performer’."