Whales sounds are produced by moving air back and forth through body passages. These haunting sounds may travel kilometres under water and can be heard above the surface. The intricate vocalisations produced range from high squeaks to low guttural growls, with many being at a frequency so low that they can not be heard by humans.
Often, the sounds produced are organised into long sequences and are called songs. Humpback whales are thought to produce the longest and most varied songs in the animal world, especially during the breeding season. Only male humpbacks sing. Each sequence normally lasts 10 - 15 minutes and can be repeated without pause, for hours. A blue whale song may last ten hours. Analysis has shown that sequences are always arranged into cycles characteristic of each population, so that all humpbacks in one area sing only the local song. These songs evolve with time and each year the song is a little different.
Info sourced from Whale sounds.
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