Pilot whales sleep by day and feed by night. A radio-tagged individual was tracked to a depth of 610 meters, and a captive was used in a U.S. Navy experiment to recover objects about 500 meters below the surface. Pilot whales are among the most intelligent and affable of cetaceans, adapting well to captivity and being easily trained. The preferred diet is squid, up to 27 kg of which may be consumed daily. Other cephalopods and small fish are also eaten.
Group size varies.
Polygamy seems to be the rule in both species of Globicephala. Adult males are often scarred, presumably from battles over control of a harem. Fighting involves biting, butting with the large head, and slapping with the tail. Social organization seems to be highly developed in Globicephala, and this factor sometimes works to the disadvantage of the animals. Individuals harpooned by people usually rush forward in panic and can be driven toward the shore.