Killer whales knock seabirds out of the water

Evan Brodsky, a passenger on a Monterey Bay Whale Watch tour boat, captured footage of the Bigg pod of killer whales in action in Monterey Bay, California. IFL Science They flapped their tails, jumped out of the water, and even tossed some seabirds that were perched on the water to teach their chicks how to hunt.

The birds being “harassed” by the killer whales in the video are common murres (Uriah begins), which typically nest in large communities on coastal cliffs and spend most of their time offshore. Although the actions of killer whales may seem playful, learning to hunt is an important life skill for young animals.

According to the whale watch group, the killer whales in the video are Bigg’s killer whales, a recently discovered species separate from the resident killer whales. Bigg’s killer whales travel in smaller pods and typically hunt marine animals, while resident killer whales typically feed on salmon. Experts plan to give Bigg’s killer whales a scientific name. Orcinus rectipinuswhich means upright wing in Latin, possibly referring to their tall, pointed dorsal fins. Meanwhile, the tentative scientific name for the resident killer whale is Orcinus ateroriginating from the fact that their main color is black.

Bigg’s killer whales are nomadic, frequently traveling along coastlines. They are also reported to be less vocal than resident killer whales, which helps them stay hidden when hunting large prey.

Bigg’s killer whales and resident killer whales don’t mix, according to Barbara Taylor, a marine biologist who formerly worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service. “They’re the most distinct killer whales in the world, they live right next to each other and see each other all the time. They just don’t mix,” Taylor explains.