"Arctic Jazz: Bowhead Whales Have Amazingly Diverse Songbook"

"WASHINGTON - Bowhead whales, the black filter-feeding giants of the Arctic that can live for 200 years devouring tons of tiny marine creatures, boast another remarkable quality. Their unique underwater songs make them wonderful “jazz” artists.

Researchers on Tuesday said they conducted an intensive study of the vocalizations — singing — of a population of roughly 300 bowhead whales in the sea east of Greenland from 2010 to 2014, using underwater microphones.

They amassed the largest collection of recordings ever made for bowheads, revealing a diverse and constantly changing vocal repertoire. The researchers, who identified 184 distinct songs, said the singing apparently is a reproductive display by males."

Will Dunham reports for Reuters April 3, 2018.

SEE ALSO:

"When Whales and Humans Talk" (Hakai)

"A Tale Of 2 Whale Songs" (NPR)

"These Mysterious Whales Are the Jazz Musicians Of the Sea" (National Geographic)