Humpback whales make a series of moans, cries, and howls to communicate with each other. Lacking vocal cords, humpbacks produce sounds with a larynx-like structure in the throat. These sounds travel great distances through the water to reach the ears of other whales. Both sexes can produce sounds, but only males produce the haunting and beautiful whale songs for which they’re known. Lasting between five and 35 minutes at a time, these highly complex songs vary between groups and appear to change slightly every year. Scientists have yet to identify the facts behind their full meaning, but they likely contain information about personal identity, navigation, and nearby threats.