Two types of breaching have been observed in the humpback whale. The less impressive food breaching is rather a food rush used at the end of its feeding journey. When chasing schools of fish towards the surface, the whale carried by its momentum partially springs out of the water. The 'traditional' breaching is much more acrobatic. This 'physical exclamation point' corresponds to a form of sound communication, a challenge, a power or courtship display.