Belugas blow bubbles based on mood

In addition to being skilled singers, belugas are also masters at blowing bubbles. A study of 44 beluga whales kept in captivity revealed that this behavior is more than simply something they find amusing. Other bubble forms are seen to have more practical uses than rings and slow-releasing bubbles, which are thought to be signs of playfulness. While whales are supposed to blow matching bubble rings as a kind of social connection, sudden bubble bursts may be a sign of a protective reaction.

Two bubble forms that have been identified as being largely fun are blowhole drips and mouth rings. These two varieties of the bubble are created more frequently by female Belugas than by male Belugas, according to the study, "which shows that female Belugas are more playful in nature than their male counterparts". A Beluga's startle reaction manifests as blowhole blasts. Adult females are more likely than adult males to form this sort of bubble, which "suggests that adult females are more reactive by nature than adult males." However, the study also discovered that juvenile males emit blowhole bursts more frequently than juvenile females, which is "reflects a rowdier intensity of play bouts in younger males than females." Although humpback whale blowhole streams are thought to be an aggressive behavior, the Canisius study found that this is not true with beluga whales. The study did discover that male Belugas (including adults and juveniles) generated blowhole streams more frequently, which may be an indication of anger.