1. Understanding habitat requirements for species at risk is crucial for effective conservation management, even though the location and extent of vital habitats may be unknown for rare or elusive species. 2. In the case of marine species, determining important habitat often relies on limited occurrence data or extrapolation from species distribution models (SDMs). SDMs predict habitat by associating species records with environmental variables, assuming a functional ecological relationship. 3. This study focuses on northern bottlenose whales (NBW: Hyperoodon ampullatus) and Sowerby's beaked whales (SBW; Mesoplodon bidens) in the western North Atlantic. As both NBW and SBW are at risk in Canada, the objective was to identify important habitat to guide conservation efforts. To do this we mapped realized habitat based on species occurrence data, created ensemble SDMs using passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) data to identify potential habitat, and assessed the functions and persistence of habitat use. 4. The analysis of multiple data sources revealed that habitats for NBW and SBW were concentrated along the continental shelf edges, at an average depth of 1,200 meters. These habitats played crucial roles in foraging and movement for both species. 5. The Gully and submarine canyons off eastern Nova Scotia emerged as important areas for both species, supported by sightings, acoustic detections, and SDMs, which validated the existing Critical Habitat for NBW. However, spatial-temporal patterns diverged on either side of this region. The Sackville Spur and north-eastern Newfoundland were areas of near year-round presence for NBW, whereas the southwestern Scotian Shelf region, Georges Bank, and the Fundian Channel supported persistent foraging by SBW. 6. By integrating multiple data sources and demonstrating the temporal persistence of habitat use by NBW and SBW, this study provides valuable insights for identifying, protecting, and managing important habitat for beaked whales.