Animal Guide

Beluga

6 destinations · 6 states

Native Range: Arctic and subarctic waters

Belugas are easy to spot thanks to their bright white bodies, but spend a few minutes watching and their faces may steal your attention. Unlike most whales, they can move their lips and change the shape of their forehead, called the melon, giving them an unusually expressive appearance. They are also remarkably vocal. Belugas whistle, chirp, click, and squeal so often that sailors once nicknamed them "sea canaries." At an aquarium, watch how smoothly they maneuver through the water. Their neck vertebrae are not fused, allowing them to turn their heads from side to side instead of keeping the head and body aligned. They can even swim backward. Younger belugas provide another surprise because calves are born gray and gradually become white as they mature. In the wild, these social whales gather in Arctic and subarctic seas, where their pale coloring and thick layer of blubber suit a life among cold water and seasonal ice.

Beluga

Where to see Beluga

6 destinations across 6 states

6 destinations

Georgia Aquarium

Atlanta, GA

Mystic Aquarium

Mystic, CT

SeaWorld Orlando

Orlando, FL

SeaWorld San Antonio

San Antonio, TX

SeaWorld San Diego

San Diego, CA

Shedd Aquarium

Chicago, IL

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