Beluga whales, recognizable by their distinct white coloration, are marine mammals adapted to life in cold, northern waters. Their habitats and distribution provide insight into their survival strategies and the health of Arctic ecosystems.
Global Range
Beluga whales primarily inhabit circumpolar Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, extending across cold, shallow coastal waters and estuaries. These environments include bays, inlets, and river mouths where water temperatures can be as low as 0°C (32°F). Belugas are well-suited to these icy conditions, possessing a thick layer of blubber for insulation and lacking a dorsal fin, which facilitates swimming under ice.
While most commonly found in shallow coastal areas, belugas also use deeper waters, diving to considerable depths for feeding and calving. This adaptability allows them to exploit varied habitats, from coves and fjords to shallow Arctic Ocean waters. Their worldwide population is estimated to be around 200,000 individuals.
Key Regional Populations
Regional populations exist across their northern range. In the Canadian Arctic, significant populations reside in areas such as Hudson Bay and around Baffin Island. The Western Hudson Bay population is large, estimated at approximately 55,000 individuals, making it Canada’s largest and considered stable. Eastern Hudson Bay supports a smaller population of about 3,400 to 3,800 animals.
Russian Arctic waters also host substantial beluga populations, including those in the White Sea and Kara Sea. Greenland is another important region, particularly West Greenland, where belugas are common from Maniitsoq in the south to Qaanaaq in the north during winter. The West Greenland population, estimated at about 10,000 animals, has shown signs of recovery following regulated whaling.
Alaskan waters are home to five recognized beluga whale populations:
Beaufort Sea (around 39,300 individuals)
Eastern Chukchi Sea (about 20,700)
Eastern Bering Sea (7,000–9,200)
Bristol Bay (2,000–3,000)
Cook Inlet (genetically distinct, estimated at 331 individuals as of 2022, critically endangered and geographically isolated)
Bristol Bay belugas are largely restricted to their estuarine system year-round, with an estimated population of about 1,928 individuals, which appears to be stable or increasing.
Seasonal Migration and Estuary Use
Many beluga populations undertake seasonal migrations. As sea ice thaws in spring and summer, beluga groups move into warmer river estuaries and shallow coastal areas. They gather in the hundreds or even thousands in these shallow waters, which are typically 8 to 10 °C.
Estuaries provide an optimal environment for calving, nursing young, and molting, where they rub against the seabed to shed old skin. These shallow, warmer waters also offer protection from predators like killer whales. Specific examples include the Churchill River estuary in Hudson Bay, where thousands of belugas congregate during summer for molting, feeding, and nursery activities. The Mackenzie River estuary in Canada is another significant summering ground.
While many populations migrate, some beluga groups are sedentary, remaining in relatively small areas year-round and adapting their movements to local environmental conditions. For instance, some belugas in the eastern Canadian Arctic overwinter in areas of persistent open water known as polynyas. Migration timing can be influenced by changes in sea ice, with some populations delaying southward movement as ice takes longer to freeze.