Most of the baleen whales undergo seasonal migrations and, in many cases, these are over vast distances. The minke whale is unusual in apparently not conforming to this pattern, although they seem to move further away from the shore in the autumn, perhaps for breeding purposes. They also appear to be more solitary than other baleens and are usually seen singly or in pairs, although larger groups can gather. Minke whales are very adaptable and eat a wide range of fish and squid, as well as krill and other plankton. They feed in a variety of different ways, depending on the prey concerned and often trap shoals of fish against the water surface.
Births occur in mid-winter, after a pregnancy of ten months.
The new born calf is only about 2.6m long. It stays with its mother for about two years and reaches sexual maturity at about seven. The natural life span of minke whales is some fifty years. The story of this whale's name illustrates its blighted history. Eventually, it was formally adopted as the name for this small species.