White Beaked Dolphin

What is it: 

The white-beaked dolphin is a sturdy, robust-bodied animal that can reach 3.1 metres in length and weigh up to 350 kg when fully grown. The dark grey dorsal fin is tall and falcate (curved) and the beak is short and often entirely white. Colouration is a mix of dark grey back, tail and pectoral fins, with greyish-white flashes along the flanks and a pale grey patch behind the dorsal fin (known as the saddle-patch). The tail stock is quite thick.

Abundant in all Scottish waters but concentrated around the Hebrides and Northern Isles.

There are two groups of layers included on NMPi:

  1. Statistical approaches to aid identification of Marine Protected Areas for White-beaked dolphin. Based on SNH Commissioned Report No. 594, these include
    •  Observer adjusted densities of White-beaked dolphin; and
    • Modelled persistence of above mean density of White-beaked dolphin (summers 1994-2012).
  2. White-beaked dolphin effort related sightings displays
    • ​Annual Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust Effort Related Sightings Data (2003-2011)
    • Annual and monthly distribution and relative abundance (1979-1997)
Data originators: 
Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)
This information page is part of the theme: 
Cetaceans
More Information: 

Whales, dolphins and porpoises are collectively known as cetaceans. Twenty-three species have been recorded in Scottish waters over the last 25 years. Of these 11 are regularly sighted, the remaining 12 are considered to be vagrants or rare visitors.

Cetaceans are very mobile and can range widely with some undertaking large scale seasonal migrations often leaving Scottish waters in the process. Other species are more localised in their distribution. The greatest diversity of species is found off the continental shelf in waters to the north and west of Scotland.

This page was last modified on : 
Monday, April 18, 2016 - 16:58

Links and Resources

Map Type Click title for metadata and licence informationsort descending Date of data View Map
Map Layers (NMPi) Annual distribution and relative abundance of White-beaked dolphin (1979 - 1997) Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Annual Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust Effort Related Sightings data for White-beaked dolphin (2003 - 2001) 2003-01-01 to 2011-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) April - Monthly distribution and relative abundance of White-beaked dolphin (1979 -1997) 1979-01-01 to 1997-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) August - Monthly distribution and relative abundance of White-beaked dolphin (1979 -1997) 1979-01-01 to 1997-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) December - Monthly distribution and relative abundance of White-beaked dolphin (1979 -1997) 1979-01-01 to 1997-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) February - Monthly distribution and relative abundance of White-beaked dolphin (1979 -1997) 1979-01-01 to 1997-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) January - Monthly distribution and relative abundance of White-beaked dolphin (1979 -1997) 1979-01-01 to 1997-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) July - Monthly distribution and relative abundance of White-beaked dolphin (1979 -1997) 1979-01-01 to 1997-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) June - Monthly distribution and relative abundance of White-beaked dolphin (1979 -1997) 1979-01-01 to 1997-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) March - Monthly distribution and relative abundance of White-beaked dolphin (1979 -1997) 1979-01-01 to 1997-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) May - Monthly distribution and relative abundance of White-beaked dolphin (1979 -1997) 1979-01-01 to 1997-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Modelled persistence of above mean density of White-beaked dolphin (summers 1994 - 2012) 1994-01-01 to 2012-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) November - Monthly distribution and relative abundance of White-beaked dolphin (1979 -1997) 1979-01-01 to 1997-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Observed adjusted densities of White-beaked dolphin (all seasons 1994 - 2012) 1994-01-01 to 2012-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Observed adjusted densities of White-beaked dolphin (all seasons 1994 - 2012) (mapped as graduated symbols) 1994-01-01 to 2012-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) October - Monthly distribution and relative abundance of White-beaked dolphin (1979 -1997) 1979-01-01 to 1997-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) September - Monthly distribution and relative abundance of White-beaked dolphin (1979 -1997) 1979-01-01 to 1997-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Type Link Titlesort descending External Link
Reports SNH Commissioned Report 594: Statistical approaches to aid the identification of Marine Protected Areas for minke whale, Risso's dolphin, white-beaked dolphin and basking shark www.nature.scot
Type Title External link
Organisations Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust hwdt.org
Web link SNH Dolphins, Whales & Porpoises www.nature.scot
Web link Marine Scotland Cetaceans www.gov.scot
Web link JNCC - White Beaked Dolphin jncc.defra.gov.uk
Web link Whale and Dolphin Trust - White Beaked Dolphin hwdt.org
Documents JNCC - Atlas of cetacean distribution in north-west European waters jncc.defra.gov.uk
FEAST White-beaked dolphin www.marine.scotland.gov.uk