June started quite windy in the East and Eest tips of Madeira which makes it difficult to spot the sea mammals in rough ocean...

Week 23: From the 1st to the 7th of June 2026
Bryde's whale Balaenoptera edeni
Common Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus
Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus
Short-beaked Common dolphin Delphinus delphis
Atlantic spotted dolphin Stenella frontalis
Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba

May... the force of nature be with you! May is a powerful month in terms of nature as one can feel that Spring has settled in - birds displaying, flowers blooming and more ocean creatures coming to life!

Week 22: From the 25th to the 31st of May 2026
Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba
Atlantic spotted dolphin Stenella frontalis
Short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis
Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus
Common Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus
Cuvier's beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris
Bryde's whale Balaenoptera edeni

Week 21: From the 18th to the 24th of May 2026
Bryde's whale Balaenoptera edeni
Blainville's beaked whale Mesoplodon densirostris
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus
Pygmy killer whale Feresa attenuata
Common Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus
Short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis
Atlantic spotted dolphin Stenella frontalis

The passage of baleen whales by Madeira waters usually starts in April and it extends until October. As sea temperature starts to rise the common dolphin species in the winter become rarer in summer and vice-versa, so from now on we should watch less Common dolphins Delphinus delphis and more Spotted dolphins Stenella frontalis...

Week 18: From the 26th of April to the 3rd of May 2026
Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus
Bryde's whale Balaenoptera edeni
Blainville's beaked whale Mesoplodon densirostris
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus
Common Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus
Short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis
Atlantic spotted dolphin Stenella frontalis
Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba

March means spring but this year, in Madeira it looks like winter is not yet ready to leave... Let's hope whales and dolphins don't really care about the weather above sea level!

Week 13: From the 23rd to the 29th of March 2026
Short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis
Common Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus
Blainville's beaked whale Mesoplodon densirostris
Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus

Weather and sea conditions are not playing easy this winter. Wind has been blowing quite strong, it has been colder than previous winters and also rainier. Although these conditions do not affect much the underwater species, it gets hard for humans to sail the ocean and to spot cetaceans...

Week 9: From the 23rd of February to the 1st of March 2026
Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus
Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba
Short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis
Common Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus

This website is developed by Wind Birds' company as a contribute to the knowledge and conservation of whales and dolphins species around the Madeira archipelago and to promote whale watching in a sustainable way.

26 species of cetaceans are confirmed records for Madeira archipelago waters and three species remain as dubious records as there are not enough evidence to allow a definite identification of the species.

One can not write about whale watching without mentioning whaling, as that was how it all started... So we begin by framing historically the whaling industry in Madeira archipelago and the use of its products.

In Madeira, whale watching has evolved from chance encounters into one of the island’s most captivating marine experiences. Following the end of whaling, sightings of whales and dolphins became increasingly common, often delighting passengers on coastal and big game fishing trips when pods happened to cross their path. What began as a matter of luck gradually transformed into a dedicated tourism activity, and by 2004, specialized companies were launching sea excursions dedicated to the observation of cetaceans.

Today, Madeira boasts a wide range of operators offering whale and dolphin watching tours around the island. With so many options available, the real choice lies in selecting a company that prioritizes sustainability, respects marine life, and delivers an authentic, responsible encounter with nature.