During winter, they fast almost completely, living off their fat reserves. Mating occurs throughout the winter and young are born a year later between December and April. A calf, measuring 20 feet at birth, will nurse for about 7 months and reach sexual maturity at the age of 5-6 years. Reproductively active females bear only one calf every 2-3 years. The lifespan is unknown.
Finback whales live in all oceans of the world.
They are found mostly offshore and tend to be very nomadic. High latitudes and cold currents are favorite areas because food availability there is high. As with the other species of whales, finback populations have suffered from decades of hunting. In earlier years, finbacks were not especially easy to harvest because of their speed and the fact that they sink when killed. However, modern techniques have made this whale more accessible and they became the target as blue whale populations decreased.