White-beaked dolphins feed on living, benthic, shallow water fish. Their food varies according to the region and probably depends on the local availability. The stomach content of those washed ashore at the Belgian coast consisted amongst others of whiting, cod, haddock, hake, herring, plaice, mackerel and cephalopods and some benthic crustaceans. 

 These dolphins are mostly found living far offshore, normally in shoals of 6 to 20, although in one exceptional case of more than 1500. They are often observed together with the Atlantic white-sided dolphin. They are powerful swimmers who love to surf on bow waves of ships.