Aerial video shot by videographer Rhys Morgan shows a fin whale executing a classic lunge-feeding manoeuvre in which it opens its jaws wide and engulfs a vast volume of water and prey.
The fin whale is the second-largest whale species after the blue whale, and is known for fast, powerful feeding behaviours. In the footage, the whale rapidly approaches a prey patch and then lunges forward with its mouth agape, taking in what the video describes as thousands of gallons of seawater along with whatever small fish or krill it is targeting.
Lunge feeding is a specialised technique used by several baleen whale species: the animal expands its mouth and throat pleats to capture a large column of water containing prey, then expels the water through its baleen plates while retaining the food. The drone perspective offers a rare aerial view of the mechanics and scale of that manoeuvre, highlighting how much water a single feed can involve.
Such footage can provide researchers and the public with clearer views of whale behaviour that are difficult to obtain from boats. At the same time, operators using drones around marine wildlife are advised to follow local regulations and best-practice guidelines to minimise disturbance. The clip was recorded by Rhys Morgan on his drone and has drawn attention for the dramatic scale of the animal’s feeding behaviour.