A stocky black whale without a dorsal fin, found mainly in North Atlantic coastal waters.
Raised patches of rough skin on the head look white because small crustaceans cover their surface.
North Atlantic right whale mothers with very young calves use a high proportion of quiet call types. Pregnant females and juveniles also produce quiet sounds, but these form a larger share of the repertoire during nursing. Calls suited to nearby listeners are part of these whales’ vocal behaviour, alongside louder signals that can travel farther.
A 2019 study analysed recordings collected off Georgia and Florida during January and February in 2006 and 2014–2016. Sixteen suction-cup tag deployments provided 107.9 hours of audio containing 754 calls. Lactating females used a higher proportion of quiet call types than pregnant females and juveniles. The researchers discuss reduced detection by predators as a possible explanation, alongside the limited social interactions of mothers with young calves.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
Fishing-gear entanglement and vessel strikes are leading causes of North Atlantic right whale mortality. From February to May 2025, NOAA and fishermen tested on-demand gear off Massachusetts and Rhode Island during periods when fishing with standard static vertical lines was restricted. These systems reduce the need for ropes permanently connecting surface buoys to seabed traps and are being developed to reduce entanglement risk.