The total West Coast Bigg's ("Transient") population consists of 500+ individuals split between two subpopulations- the inner coast and outer coast Bigg's. They are one of the harder populations along the West Coast to study due to their large travel ranges and cryptic behavior, though their population has increased dramatically since the 1990s. They are silent hunters, often staying underwater for long periods of time with little to no vocalizations. They're also not as surface active as the resident ecotypes, with very little breaching, splashing, or other disruptive behaviors during their hunts. They often celebrate a successful hunt with breaches, tail slaps, spyhops, and other surface-active behavior. 

West Coast Transients were recently identified to consist of two different subpopulations- the inner coast Bigg's and the outer coast Bigg's- based on behavior and habitat use preferences as well as dialects.

The Inner Coast Subpopulation has a preference for shallow, coastal habitats ranging from Southeast Alaska to Southern California, where they hunt near the coast for harbor seals. They are found in straits, bays, narrow inlets, coves, around shallow submerged reefs, rocky shores, shallow sandy surf zones, and even in inlets reaching far inland. They also utilize man-made structures, such as coastal breakwaters, as well as rocky intertidal areas, lagoons, and estuaries. 

The Outer Coast Subpopulation, however, is found in offshore waters near the continental break and slope. They hunt near submarine canyons, subsurface seamounts, and offshore islands, using the unique bathymetry and bathymetric interactions to hunt and ambush prey. While they are mostly found in open waters, they have been observed near the Farallon and Channel Islands and have made short incursions to the Strait of Juan de Fuca (often for <2 days at a time over deep waters).