The Galapagos Islands are a haven for chicken lovers. The cluster of islands off the coast of Ecuador is dwelling to over 180 species of birds. Of these species, there are 56 native birds, of which 45 are endemic species (solely discovered on the islands) and 11 are indigenous (native to the Galapagos however discovered elsewhere as effectively). This makes it an extremely distinctive alternative to catch a glimpse of a few of the most lovely birds on this planet of their pure habitat.
On any journey to the islands, you’ll discover an unbelievable number of birds, together with land, shore, and sea birds. Whereas many have heard of essentially the most well-known Galapagos birds like penguins and blue-footed boobies, there are many different fascinating species that you simply’ll need to preserve an eye fixed out for.
In case you’re planning a visit to the islands off the coast of Ecuador, it is a breakdown of the commonest birds of the Galapagos Islands.
Birds of Galapagos
Organized by completely different species, right here’s a have a look at essentially the most unbelievable Galapagos birds that you simply’ll probably come throughout. Relying on the islands you resolve to go to, you’ll have an opportunity to see these chicken species at completely different instances of the 12 months.
Penguins
Galapagos penguin
Conservation Standing: Endangered
Dimension: 49-53cm in size as an grownup
Habitat: The one penguin that lives at or above the equator, the Galapagos penguins reside within the coastal space of the western islands, particularly Fernandina and Isabela.
One of the distinctive birds on the Galapagos Islands, the Galapagos penguin (spheniscus mendiculus) is endemic to the islands and is among the smallest penguins on this planet.
Fairly remarkably, they’ve by some means tailored to surviving within the hotter climates of the Galapagos waters, at and above the equator. This makes the lovable birds a must-see when visiting these islands.
Galapagos penguins on the rocks on Isabela Island
Penguins and boobies on the rock round Urbina Bay
Gulls
Swallow-tailed gull
Conservation Standing: Least concern
Dimension: They will develop to between 50-57cm, however weigh lower than a kilogram
Habitat: The swallow-tailed gulls are sea birds, that favor steep, rocky cliffs, and the hotter waters discovered on the japanese facet of the Galapagos archipelago
The swallow-tailed gull (Creagrus furcatus) is endemic to the Galapagos and one of many solely nocturnal gulls on this planet. They feed on squid and fish in the course of the night time, generally a good distance from the land if needed.
They have a tendency to nest on the cliff areas of most islands within the Galapagos, though mostly on the hotter japanese facet. The nocturnal gull will be acknowledged by a brilliant orange/crimson ring round every eye, and a black beak with a gray level.
Creagrus furcatus or Swallow Tailed Gull. Photograph credit: suecan1, CC BY 2.0, by way of Wikimedia Commons
Lava gull
Conservation Standing: Susceptible
Dimension: Between 53-55cm in size
Habitat: They’re principally discovered on Santa Cruz, Genovesa, Isabela, and San Cristobal Islands and like to nest amongst coastal vegetation
Lava gulls (leucophaeus fuliginosus) are an endemic species on the Galapagos Islands. They’re thought-about to be the rarest gulls on this planet. They’re discovered predominantly on 4 islands, Santa Cruz, Genovesa, San Cristobal, and Isabela. However, they can be noticed throughout the archipelago.
They’re distinctive from different birds in that they don’t type massive breeding colonies and are often noticed in single pairs.
Hawks
Galapagos hawk
Conservation Standing: Susceptible with reducing numbers
Dimension: As much as 56cm tall and weighs lower than a kilogram, however their wingspan will be as much as 120cm
Habitat: The Galapagos hawk will be discovered on the archipelago’s most important islands. Their nests are usually low in bushes, on lava ledges or on the bottom, away from human exercise.
Galapagos hawks (buteo galapagoensis) are one of many most important predators on the islands, sitting on the high of the meals chain amongst land birds. These birds of prey are expert hunters, and significantly goal child iguanas, tortoises and lava lizards, typically in packs of two or three.
They often even hunt for seabird eggs, making them a risk to different chicken species on the distant islands. They’re carefully associated to North America’s red-backed and white-tailed hawks.
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Boobies
Blue footed boobies
Conservation Standing: Inhabitants steady – least concern standing
Dimension: On common 80cm lengthy and weighing round 1.5kg
Habitat: A sort of sea chicken, the blue footed booby are confined to marine habitats, however typically spend time on the coast and shoreline. You will discover blue footed boobies proper throughout the islands of the Galapagos.
The blue-footed booby (sula nebouxii) is among the hottest birds within the Galapagos Islands that folks need to see once they go to the area. The identify comes from the Spanish phrase, bobo, that means clown, which matches the chicken’s quirky dancing and brilliant colored toes.
With only a few pure predators, the blue footed boobies are inclined to spend loads of time on land.
Blue footed booby on Santa Cruz within the Galapagos
Blue footed booby on Santa Cruz within the Galapagos
Pink-footed boobies
Conservation Standing: Least concern standing
Dimension: Will be round 70cm lengthy and weigh as much as a most of 1kg
Habitat: All through the tropical and subtropical elements of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.
The red-footed booby (sula sula) is the smallest of all of the completely different species of booby birds. Because the identify suggests they’ve distinctive crimson toes and a pale blue invoice, however they do are available quite a lot of physique colors, together with brown, white and black.
Pink-footed boobies are present in massive breeding colonies typically between late January and September, laying eggs solely as soon as each 15 months.
Nazca boobies
Conservation Standing: Inhabitants reducing – least concern standing
Dimension: On common they develop 75-90cm in peak and weigh round 1.3-2.3kg
Habitat: Regardless of being a kind of sea chicken species, Nazca boobies are often discovered on the coast and shoreline of the japanese Pacific shoreline
The Nazca booby (sula granti) is the bigger of the three species of boobies discovered on the Galapagos. They catch small fish by diving into the water from heights of as much as 30 metres alongside the shoreline. Nazca boobies lay their eggs in two’s in contrast to different comparable species, however it’s not unusual for them to lose one in all their chicks.
![](https://drinkteatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/Ecuador-Galapagos-Oniric-Cruise-Santa-Cruz-nazca-boobie-bird-05758.jpg")
Albatrosses
Waved albatross / Galapagos albatross
Conservation Standing: Critically endangered – inhabitants reducing
Dimension: They will develop to 80-90cm with a wingspan of as much as 2.5 metres and weigh round 3.5kg on common
Habitat: The waved albatross solely lives on Española Island within the Galapagos, though they do forage throughout the waters of Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador.
As the biggest chicken within the Galápagos Islands, the waved albatross (phoebastria irrorata) can have a wingspan of as much as 2.5 metres. Nonetheless, this unbelievable marine chicken can solely be seen from April to December, once they arrive again from feeding to nest on land.
Within the non-breeding season, the migratory species can fly throughout South America in search of meals, however will all the time return to Espanola Island to nest and breed.
Galapagos albatross feeding its chick.
Petrels
Galapagos petrel
Conservation Standing: Critically endangered
Dimension: They develop to round 43cm in size with a wingspan of 90cm
Habitat: They spend plenty of outing at sea, however will be discovered within the humid highlands of Santa Cruz, Floreana, Santiago, San Cristobal and Isabela islands in the course of the breeding season.
One of many six most important endemic Galapagos sea birds on the islands, the Galapagos petrel (pterodroma phaeopygia) is a medium-sized sea chicken. They will fly as far-off as Central America and northern South America in search of meals, which is usually squid and fish.
Galapagos petrels are most in danger from different birds of prey and invasive species like rats and feral cats and canines.
Galapagos petrel
Cormorants
Flightless cormorant
Conservation Standing: Susceptible – inhabitants low however steady
Dimension: They develop as much as 100cm tall and 5kg in weight
Habitat: They’re endemic to Fernandina and Isabela Island, preferring the colder water. Flightless cormorants nest in sheltered areas, inside round 100m from the shoreline.
Arguably essentially the most uncommon Galapagos chicken, the flightless cormorant (phalacrocorax harrisi) initially arrived within the Galapagos Islands by flying, however has since misplaced the flexibility to really fly. It’s the one identified cormorant to have misplaced the flexibility to fly via adaptation.
The Galapagos cormorant may be very succesful at swimming although, as they transfer with currents and tides to catch meals, together with eels, fish and octopus. The Galapagos flightless cormorant will be recognized by its brown physique and brilliant blue eyes.
Flightless cormorant fishing for octopus
Flightless cormorant
Flamingos
Galapagos flamingos
Conservation Standing: Least concern
Dimension: Between 120-145cm in peak and a couple of.2kg and a couple of.8kg in weight
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical areas, significantly within the saltwater lagoons hidden within the lava fields close to the coastlines of the Galapagos islands.
Amongst the number of Galapagos Island birds, lots of people don’t anticipate to see flamingos. However they are often onerous to seek out. The archipelago is dwelling to a small inhabitants of the American flamingo or generally known as the Caribbean flamingo (phoenicopterus ruber) with their brilliant pink feathers.
Nonetheless, the precise inhabitants of Galapagos flamingos are barely smaller than their Caribbean counterparts and are hidden within the lagoons on the coast, making it tough to achieve them carefully.
Owls
Galapagos short-eared owl
Conservation Standing: Least concern
Dimension: They develop on common to 40cm tall and weigh round 3km, with a 90cm wingspan
Habitat: Open areas of grassland and lava rock
The Galapagos short-eared owl (asio flammeus galapagoensis) is an endemic subspecies of the widespread short-eared owl which is discovered on each continent besides Antarctica. Whereas most owls hunt at night time, the Galapagos short-eared owl has learnt to hunt in the course of the day as effectively, in order to not conflict with the Galapagos hawk, so you may see them lively at any hour.
Just like the few different Galapagos birds of prey, they hunt rats, juvenile marine iguanas, and different birds, together with booby species.
Doves
Galapagos dove
Conservation Standing: Least concern however close to threatened
Dimension: They’re small, rising to simply 20cm on common and weighing lower than 100g
Habitat: Present in arid zones throughout the islands
The Galapagos dove (zenaida galapagoensis) will be recognised by its crimson toes, placing blue eye ring, and speckled golden-brown plumage. They’re pretty widespread birds and very tame, so it’s straightforward to get a pleasant snap of them throughout your time on the Galapagos Islands.
A pair of Galapagos doves
Mockingbirds
Galapagos mockingbird
Conservation Standing: Least concern – inhabitants steady
Dimension: Just like the dove, they’re very small rising to simply 25cm and weighing simply 50g
Habitat: Discovered throughout most Galapagos Islands, besides San Cristobal, Floreana and Española
The Galapagos mockingbird (mimus parvulus) is the commonest of the 4 species of mockingbirds discovered on the islands. They’re pleasant birds and customarily discovered across the islands, making them quite common sightings for chicken watchers.
The Galapagos mockingbird is most well-known for serving to affirm Charles Darwin’s principle of evolution and pure choice, together with the Galapagos finches. The mockingbird additionally helps different animals just like the marine iguanas, who acknowledge their warning name to hunt shelter from predators.
Galapagos Mocking Chook
Flycatchers
Galapagos flycatcher
Conservation Standing: Least concern
Dimension: A tiny chicken at simply 15cm in size
Habitat: Discovered within the tropical forests of the primary islands
The Galapagos flycatcher (myiarchus magnirostris) is the biggest flycatcher on the islands, regardless of being a small chicken. They’re characterised by a grey-brown breast and throat, whereas a male has a yellow stomach and a feminine has a beige stomach.
Galapagos flycatcher
Frigatebirds
Magnificent frigate chicken
Conservation Standing: Least concern
Dimension: The frigate chicken will be round 1.2kg with an enormous wingspan of as much as 2.4m
Habitat: Primary breeding colonies are discovered on North Seymour, Floreana, San Cristobal and Genovesa, particularly amongst mangrove forests.
The magnificent frigate chicken (fregata magnificens) is one in all two frigatebirds on the islands and is a really distinctive chicken to see. They’ve a number of nicknames, together with pirate birds and the condor of the oceans, as Charles Darwin known as them.
They’ve a novel physique form, with the biggest wingspan to physique weight ratio of any chicken on this planet. The males are fairly placing, being all black with a big crimson gular, which is inflated in the course of the breeding season to draw females.
Darwin’s Finches
Conservation Standing: Susceptible
Dimension: They develop simply to 20cm most and as much as 40 grams
Habitat: Will be seen all 12 months spherical and throughout all of the islands, relying on the sub-species
Out of the birds on Galapagos Islands, Charles Darwin finches (geospizinae subfamily) are most well-known for his or her contribution to evolutionary historical past. They’re a collective of 13 species of finches discovered on the islands.
Every species tailored over time and developed to have completely different beaks that are suited to completely different meals. These finches on the Galapagos Islands helped Darwin perceive evolution and pure choice. This makes them a few of the most sought-after for chicken watchers who make the journey to the South American islands.
Darwin Finch
Herons
Lava heron / Galapagos heron
Conservation Standing: Least concern
Dimension: The common measurement is round 35cm and 2kg in weight with a wingspan of 60cm
Habitat: The lava heron is often discovered on all islands in Galapagos, significantly on the shoreline.
The lava heron or in any other case generally known as the Galapagos heron (butorides sundevalli). It is among the endemic shore birds discovered on the islands. The small birds reside and nest alongside the lava rock coastlines, saltwater lagoons, and mangrove forests throughout a lot of the islands.
How you can see Galapagos birds
In your greatest probability to see birds in Galapagos, you may be part of particular chicken watching and naturalist excursions. This manner you may study what number of species are on the Galapagos Islands and about all of the completely different traits and breeding patterns of the land birds in comparison with sea birds.
Nonetheless, many Galapagos birds can be seen simply as you journey across the islands and spend time on and across the seashores. A few of the commonest birds just like the finches, mockingbirds, and booby species, will be noticed with out an excessive amount of effort. In case you’re a eager chicken watcher although, a tour is worth it with educated guides to steer you to identified spots.