The beluga is a comparatively small, distinctively white whale distributed throughout the Arctic and subarctic waters of northern Canada, including the St. Lawrence estuary in Quebec. Unlike the majority of whales, the beluga possesses no dorsal fin, a structural adaptation that enables it to swim effortlessly beneath continuous sheets of sea ice. Its rounded forehead, anatomically known as a melon, contributes to the animal's characteristically friendly appearance. The melon also visibly changes configuration whenever the whale generates sound. The beluga was historically abundant. However, intensive hunting and persistent pollution diminished certain populations dramatically before deliberate protection measures were finally established.

Arguably the beluga's most distinctive characteristic is its remarkably elaborate voice. The animal produces such an extraordinary range of clicks, whistles, and resonant chirps that early sailors affectionately nicknamed it the "sea canary." These vocalizations are not merely social communication. The beluga additionally relies on a sophisticated form of echolocation to navigate murky water and accurately locate prey concealed beneath the ice. By transmitting clicks and attentively interpreting the echoes that subsequently return, the whale assembles a remarkably detailed impression of its immediate surroundings. Even newborn calves begin producing rudimentary calls within the earliest weeks of life.