Physical Statistics: Male pilot whales tend to be about 20% larger than females, reaching approximately 22-23 feet in length. Females grow in length to 18 feet. Depending on the size, pilot whales weigh anywhere from 1-3 tons.

Field Marks: Pilot whales have a rather round, bulbous head, giving the whale its common name of "pothead". The dorsal fin shape is sexually dimorphic, with males having a broad-based, thick, falcate dorsal fin. The female’s dorsal fin is distinctly narrower at the base and has a sharper tip. The pilot whales in this area are of the "long-finned" variety with pectoral fins reaching approximately 1/5^th the length of the body. Pilot whales travel in pods and will dive as a unit for short periods of time. Occasionally, some individuals will associate with other whale and dolphin species.

Group Identification: Scarring and unique dorsal fin shapes are the only physical characteristics used for identification. Emphasis is usually placed on photographing the males from which the pod is formed around.