Whale social behavior centers on communication, navigation, and cooperation, and what observers sometimes call whale kisses generally describe surface behaviors such as pectoral fin gestures, head movements, or close social contact. This article explains how baleen and toothed whales exchange information using sound, body language, and surfacing patterns, and what researchers can and cannot infer from watching these interactions. The following sections define key behaviors, review notable observations, and place individual actions in the context of group roles, ecological pressures, and long-term study methods.
