Species: Orcinus Orca, member of the dolphin family

Diet: Fish, seals and sea lions, birds, even sharks and other whales

Lifespan: 50 - 80 years in the wild

Resident vs Transient:
Residents are most commonly seen in the Pacific Northwest. They live in cohesive family groups and have lifelong family bonds. Their diet mainly consists of fish like salmon. Transients mainly eat mammals. They travel in small groups but may not necessarily stay together as a family unit.

Behavior:

• Orcas hunt in pods like wolf packs
• Orca pods are usually ruled by a single female (matriarch). Resident orcas live with their mothers for their entire lives.
• They use echolocation to communicate and hunt.

For more information, check out these sites:

Wikipedia - Killer Whale
National Geographic - Killer Whale Facts
American Cetacean Society Face Sheet on Killer Whales