8 Types of Dolphins Found in Washington! (state)

What kinds of dolphins can you find in Washington?

I don’t think there is anything better than watching dolphins! Their playful, gregarious nature makes them one of the most beloved animals in the world.

Types of dolphins in Washington

Below, you will find pictures and descriptions of the kinds of dolphins in Washington. I’ve also included RANGE MAPS and fun facts about each species. And keep reading to the end of the article for the differences between Dolphins and Porpoises!

Although there are tons of interesting facts about dolphins, I kept each description brief to cover all the species. So, you may want to consider purchasing the book below if you want more information or need help with additional identification.

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8 DOLPHINS Found in Washington!


#1. Pacific White-sided Dolphin

  • Lagenorhynchus obliquidens

dolphins in Washington

Identifying Characteristics:

  • 5.5 to 8 feet (1.7 to 2.4 meters) long, with a short, torpedo-like shape.
  • Pale bellies and light gray patches on the sides.
  • The rostrum (nose) and back are dark gray.

Look for Pacific White-sided Dolphins in Washington in the temperate waters of the northern Pacific Ocean. This species is pelagic, meaning you’re unlikely to see them close to the shore and will need a boat to observe them.

These dolphins are playful and acrobatic, often putting on a show for humans on dolphin-watching excursions. They race in the bow waves of ships and often break the water’s surface to spin in the air. They are incredibly fast and can reach speeds of 35 miles per hour!

You’ll likely see these dolphins working cooperatively to hunt schooling fish like capelin and herring. They need to eat a lot of food, consuming around 20 pounds (9 kg) of fish per day. Pacific White-sided Dolphins live in pods of up to 50 individuals.

Despite their relatively small core pods, they can frequently be seen gathered together in much larger numbers when food is abundant. These huge groups are made up of thousands of dolphins called “super pods.”


#2. Northern Right Whale Dolphin

  • Lissodelphis borealis

Washington dolphins

Identifying Characteristics:

  • 6.5 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) long, slender and willowy in shape.
  • Their missing dorsal fin makes them look even thinner.
  • This species is nearly all black with no markings, except for the white lollipop-shaped patch on the belly.

You can see the Northern Right Whale Dolphin off the coast of Washington. They prefer the cooler waters along the edge of the continental shelf and are unlikely to be spotted near the shore. However, they may venture closer to land when deep water is available. For example, look for this species in areas where underwater canyons run near the coastline.

Northern Right Whale Dolphins are often confused with other animals, either because of their name or the way they look. While reading about it, it’s easy to confuse this dolphin with the much larger North Pacific Right Whale, which inhabits much of the same area. While observing, people often mistake them for sea lions because of their sleek surfacing style and finless, dark appearance.

Despite their stealthy movements, Northern Right Whale Dolphins can be acrobatic when they want to! They can launch themselves into breaches over 20 feet (6 meters) high, and love to side-slap the water and belly-flop loudly.

If you find a pod, it’s likely to contain more than one species. For example, Northern Right Whale Dolphins commonly socialize with Risso’s dolphins and Pacific White-sided Dolphins. They’ve even been known to travel in super-pods of up to 3,000 individuals!


#3. Striped Dolphin

  • Stenella coeruleoalba

Species of dolphins in Washington

Identifying Characteristics:

  • 8 to 9 feet (2.4 to 2.7 meters) long with a large and powerful build, small fins, and long, slender rostrums (noses).
  • Their striking color pattern makes them easy to identify. Their pale bellies and dark gray backs are highlighted by a defined, bold black stripe that runs from the rostrum, splits over the eye, and continues down the sides.

Striped Dolphins are an extremely adaptable and widespread species. You can see these dolphins in temperate, tropical, and subtropical seas. However, they prefer deep water and are usually far from shore. You may spot them near the coast if there are underwater canyons or trenches to provide a deeper habitat.

They form close social bonds with their pods, usually made up of 25 to 100 individuals. They occasionally form super pods, but not as often as other dolphins in Washington. Striped Dolphins rarely interact with other dolphin species or whales.

Striped Dolphins are very fast, agile, and active swimmers. They often leap high in the air and dive for prey as deep as 2,300 feet (700 meters).


#4. Long-beaked Common Dolphin

  • Delphinus capensis

Types of dolphins in Washington

Identifying Characteristics:

  • 6 to 8.5 feet (1.8 to 2.6 meters) long with a streamlined build, long fins, and wide tail.
  • The color pattern of common dolphins is distinct, with yellowish-tan and gray markings that form an hourglass pattern on the sides. The belly is pale gray or white, and the rest of the body is dark gray.

Long-beaked Common Dolphins inhabit warm water near the coast in temperate, subtropical, and tropical seas. They hunt in fairly shallow water, so they’re easier to observe than other dolphins in Washington. This species is great at working together to round up schools of fish such as sardines and anchovies.

They’re also agile and acrobatic swimmers. Dolphin-watchers often find them at the bows of ships, leaping and breaching into the waves.

Long-beaked Common Dolphins can live for up to 40 years. They are usually pregnant for around 11 months and give birth during the spring and early summer.


#5. Short-beaked Common Dolphin

  • Delphinus delphis

Identifying Characteristics:

  • 6 feet (1.8 meters) long, stocky, and generally a small species.
  • The color pattern of common dolphins is distinct, with yellowish-tan and gray markings that form an hourglass pattern on the sides. The belly is pale gray or white, and the rest of the body is dark gray.

This species is one of the most common dolphins in Washington!

Short-beaked Common Dolphins are highly adaptable and abundant. They inhabit a wide variety of environments, from tropical seas to cool temperate waters. However, they primarily live offshore, from the continental shelf and beyond to deeper waters. This habitat preference is slightly different from their long-beaked relatives.

Short-beaked Common Dolphins are gregarious and usually observed in huge pods of hundreds of dolphins. However, they can occasionally form super pods of up to 10,000 individuals!

They are an active and playful species that engages in breaching, bowing, and other aerial displays. They’re well-known for their acrobatic somersaults, flipping head-over-tail in the air.

Short-beaked Common Dolphins are also very social and confident around large whales and boats. You’re likely to observe them bow riding and wake surfing on both ships and whales. In addition, they are often seen with pilot whales, spinner dolphins, and seabirds.


#6. Rough-toothed Dolphin

  • Steno bredanensis

Identifying Characteristics:

  • 8.5 feet (2.6 meters) long, with a narrow, streamlined build. Their dorsal fins are tall and curved and they have long rostrums (noses).
  • They’re dark overall with white bellies and a white spot on the tip of the nose.

Rough-toothed Dolphins prefer warmer water in Washington. However, they’re pelagic, so they live away from the coast in water over 3,280 feet (1,000 meters) deep.

They are also far less playful, agile, and showy than many other dolphin species. Instead, they use their energy for speed, surfacing with a subtle skimming movement.

These dolphins live in small pods of less than 20 individuals. In some populations, the average pod size is as small as three. However, they are very social animals and are often seen interacting with other dolphins and whales.

Rough-toothed Dolphins eat fish and squid as other dolphins do but are also highly skilled at hunting larger fish. Research suggests that they could be specialized hunters of mahi-mahi or “dolphin fish.”

YouTube video

#7. Harbor Porpoise

  • Phoecena phoecena

Identifying Characteristics:

  • 5 to 5.5 feet (1.5 to 1.7 meters) long, with a rounded head and blunt rostrum (nose).
  • Small, curved body with triangular fins.
  • The back is dark gray, with light gray sides and a white belly. A thin gray line extends from the mouth to the pectoral fins and separates the white and gray areas.

Though they are mistaken by many for baby dolphins, Harbor Porpoises are very different animals. For example, Harbor Porpoises have spade-shaped teeth as opposed to dolphins’ conical, pointed teeth. Additionally, they don’t use sound to communicate the way dolphins do.

In addition, Harbor Porpoises are much shyer and more reserved than dolphins. Though social, they aren’t showy and usually group in tiny pods of 2 to 5 individuals. Because they’re far less boisterous, Harbor Porpoises are often bullied by dolphins.

Harbor Porpoises can be found in shallow, sheltered coastal areas, which is how they got their name. Unfortunately, this habit of living in such proximity to humans puts them in a lot of danger of boat strikes, being caught in fishing nets, and suffering from chronic issues like pollution.

While they’re not as active or acrobatic as dolphins, their proximity to the shore and slow, predictable behavior means that patient observers can easily spot them. They can be seen in bays and harbors along the coast.


#8. Dall’s Porpoise

  • Phocoenoides dalli

Identifying Characteristics:

  • 7 to 8 feet (2.1 to 2.4 meters) long with a rotund, barrel-like build.
  • They are almost completely black with just a few stark white patches on the face, belly, fins, and tail.

Dall’s Porpoises are numerous and widespread in the Pacific Ocean. However, they are an offshore species that hunt in deep, cold water. This makes them more difficult to observe.

They can dive over 1,600 feet (488 meters) to catch their prey, consisting of various fish and squid. They are also shockingly fast! They can swim up to 34 miles per hour, which is impressive given their small size and rotund build.

Dall’s Porpoises live in fairly small pods of 2 to 12 individuals. But, they are very gregarious creatures and are known to socialize with dolphins, pilot whales, and even larger baleen whales. They also enjoy bow riding alongside boats.


What’s the difference between Dolphins and Porpoises?

Most people think of Dolphins and Porpoises as the same, but there are some key differences between the two animals.

#1. There are MANY more species of Dolphins than Porpoises.

49 distinct species of Dolphins are recorded, while only 7 species of Porpoises are known worldwide.

#2. Their appearance is different.

Dolphins are long, lean, and streamlined with extended noses, while Porpoises are shorter and stocky with blunt noses. Dolphins have a much wider range of colors, including brown, gray, silvery blue, white, and pink. Porpoises, on the other hand, are more monochrome in shades of black, white, and gray. Porpoises have spade-shaped teeth and upright dorsal fins, but Dolphin teeth are cone-shaped, and their dorsal fins are curved.

#3. Porpoises prefer cold, shallow water, and Dolphins live in the deep, temperate waters of the open ocean.

#4. Dolphins are much more gregarious than Porpoises.

Dolphins are outgoing, make a lot of noise, and can be aggressive toward Porpoises, even “bullying” them in the wild. Porpoises prefer to avoid Dolphins altogether, and they’re much warier of humans and other animals. Additionally, humans can hear Dolphins’ whistles and chirps, but Porpoises vocalize in a range that we can’t hear.

Dolphins are so curious and comfortable with humans that they’ve been known to follow injured people who are adrift at sea!

YouTube video

Do you want to learn about LAND MAMMALS that are found in Washington? Check out this field guide!


Which of these dolphins have you seen in Washington?

Let us know in the comments!

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