US EditionMoby Dick 'ship sinking' sperm whales caught headbutting on camera
- On March 23, 2026, University of St Andrews researchers filmed and scientifically described sperm whales headbutting for the first time, publishing the study in Marine Mammal Science.
- During fieldwork between 2020 and 2022 in the Azores and Balearic Islands, researchers used unoccupied aerial vehicles to capture rare overhead near-surface views of sperm whale behavior.
- Scientists noted the behaviour appears concentrated among sub-adult sperm whales, not large adult males, and suggested headbutting may stem from physical contests, though more observations are needed.
- The finding substantiates long-standing 19th-century sailors' reports that sperm whales used their heads to push and strike objects, linking this to incidents like the 27m whaleship Essex sinking and Moby-Dick.
- Researchers said drone perspectives are transforming whale research and invited the research community and the public with similar footage, while some scientists cautioned frequent headbutting may harm echolocation structures.
26 Articles
26 Articles
What researchers thought they knew for a long time has finally been confirmed with drones, but they have not yet explained why the beheadings are necessary.
Sperm whales caught headbutting each other on camera for the first time
Drone footage has revealed sperm whales headbutting each other—something scientists had only speculated about until now. Surprisingly, it’s younger whales doing it, not the giant males researchers expected. The behavior echoes old seafaring tales of whales smashing ships, once thought exaggerated. Now, scientists are eager to understand whether these clashes are play, practice, or serious competition.
Sperm Whales Caught Head-Butting Each Other, Confirming 175-Year-Old ‘Moby Dick' Mystery
Since author Herman Melville in 1850 wrote about a fictional whale attack on a fishing vessel in his famous novel, everyone has wondered whether whales really attack ships. Finally the question is moot – they do. Scientists from University of St. Andrews in Scotland have aerial drone footage showing sperm whales using their heads as [...] The post Sperm Whales Caught Head-Butting Each Other, Confirming 175-Year-Old ‘Moby Dick’ Mystery appeared f…
Moby Dick 'ship sinking' sperm whales caught headbutting on camera
New research from the University of St Andrews reports sperm whales headbutting one another. The behavior was captured on film and described scientifically for the first time, confirming accounts by 19th century mariners of sperm whales using their heads to deliberately push and strike objects, occasionally even sinking ships, thereby inspiring Herman Melville's classic tale Moby Dick.
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