Traveling from the frigid waters of Alaska to the tropical seas off Hawaii, humpback whales migrate through Canadian waters twice a year. The whales generally follow the coastline and take advantage of seasonal currents during their migrations. In the fall, the whales head south to winter and breed in tropical waters; in spring they return to their northern feeding grounds for the summer. During the breeding season, humpback whales prefer water temperatures between 24° and 28°C. The whales favour areas that offer protection against prevailing winds and which have flat ocean beds at a depth of 15 to 60 metres.

With its black back and white belly, deeply grooved throat, and huge fluke, the humpback whale is easy to identify. Small bumps are found on the whale's head and neck, and a small dorsal fin near the centre of its back. Adults are between 14 and 19 metres long and weigh between 34,000 and 45,000 kilograms. The fluke of a male humpback can measure up to 80 centimetres across. The underside of each whale's fluke is colored black and white in a pattern that is as unique as a fingerprint. Humpback whales can live to between 45 and 50 years of age.