Beluga whale Facts for Kids

Belugas are white whales of the cold Arctic. They chirp, whistle and click to talk to each other. Their round forehead can change shape.

A beluga's round forehead is called a melon. It helps the whale send out clicks and listen to the echoes, so it can find fish even under the ice. Belugas have no tall fin on their backs, just a low ridge, which lets them swim right under the sea ice, and calves are born gray and slowly turn white.

Belugas travel in groups called pods, and in summer many pods gather in shallow bays and river mouths. Unlike most whales, they can nod and turn their heads, because their neck bones are not joined together. A thick layer of blubber keeps them warm in icy water, and they find breathing holes in the sea ice. Some beluga groups have become rare because of changing sea ice, noise from ships and pollution, so people set up protected waters where they can feed and raise their calves.