spy hop

plural spy hops

1. alternativeAlternative form of spyhop.

   Or you might see a spy hop, where the whale rises straight up out of the water, often turning 90-180 dgrees before slipping back down.

   2011, Sharon Hamblin, Oahu's North Shore, Hunter Publishing

   2 more examples

   Three of the spy hops were observed in quick succession on one evening at 22.45ish. On that occasion the male rotated 45° after each spy hop.

   2002, The Irish Naturalists' Journal, volume 27, page 189

   Would you know what to do if you witnessed the spectacular sight of a whale “breaching”? Could you tell the difference between a “spy hop” and “lobtailing”?

   2012, James Doyle, A Young Scientist's Guide to Defying Disasters with Skill & Daring, Gibbs Smith, page 142

present singular third person spy hops · participle present spy hopping · participle past spy hopped · past spy hopped

1. alternativeAlternative form of spyhop.

   Humpbacks have inquisitive natures and will regularly spy hop to look at their surroundings, often around whale-watching boats.

   1992, Ross Isaacs, Tina Dalton, The Australian Guide to Whale Watching, Weldon, page 22

   1 more example

   Humpback eyes are on the sides of their heads. They cannot always see things in front of them. Because of this, humpbacks spy hop when boats are close to them.

   1997, Randy Frahm, Wildlife of North America: The Humpback Whale, Redbrick Learning, page 9