The acoustic behavior that lets a humpback whale repeat a changing sequence of sounds is called whale song.
Male humpback whales produce elaborate sequences of moans, cries and other units. These sequences are organized into phrases and themes, and a song may last for many minutes. Males in the same region often sing broadly similar versions, while details change over time. Researchers have documented cultural transmission, with new song patterns spreading through a population.
Humpback whale song is especially associated with breeding contexts, although its exact function is not reduced to a single proven explanation. It may help with sexual advertisement, competition or social signaling. Both sexes can make sounds, but long, structured songs are most strongly associated with males.
Whale song is not the same as echolocation. Echolocation uses reflected sound to gather information about surroundings, while song is a social acoustic display.