Galapagos Islands News

Bird life in the Galapagos is much more abundant and varied simply for the fact that it was much easier for birds to reach the islands than reptiles or mammals. For a reptile or mammal to reach Galapagos, it had to survive for weeks or even months at sea, clinging to a floating tree or mass of vegetation. Once it arrived, it had to beat the odds and somehow find food and an ecological niche where it could survive. Birds, however, could fly to and from Galapagos relatively easily. Even smaller species such as finches could be carried out to Galapagos by strong storms. Today, it’s generally these smaller Galapagos species that have adapted enough to become endemic.

Like most animals, birds lead seasonal lives. They mate, nest and migrate at certain times of the year. Here’s your guide to make sure you can see your favorite Galapagos bird species on your next trip!

Waved Albatross

Where to see them:

Athala Visitor Sites: Punta Suárez
Nina Visitor Sites: Punta Suárez

One of the rarest birds in the world, the elegant Waved Albatross only nests in one place: Española Island in Galapagos. They’re handsome birds: their coloring is a blending of brown, yellow and white with a bright yellow bill. These large birds can fly for days out at sea, scouring the oceans for food such as squid and fish. Although they fly very gracefully, they’re awkward on land, only managing a sort of weak waddle when walking. In December, they start to leave: it’s the time of year when they feed, bulking up for the months that they’ll spend rearing their young. By January they’re mostly gone and visitors would be extremely lucky to see one at all until they start to return in April.

Blue-footed Boobys

Where to see them:

Athala Visitor Sites: Punta Suárez, Sombrero Chino, North Seymour
Nina Visitor Sites: Punta Suárez, North Seymour

Common and cute, Blue-footed Boobys are the favorite birds of many Galapagos travelers. They prefer to nest in any open spot, which often includes the middle of the trail: many Galapagos visitors have had to walk around boobys who impudently set up their home right on the path! During the booby mating season, male Blue-footed Boobys do a fancy courtship dance complete with lots of hooting, honking and pointing their beaks skyward. This takes place on different times on different islands, but around March is a good time to see it. Chicks hatch in June or so and need five to six months of development before they can fly.

Flamingos

Where to see them:

Athala Visitor Sites: Punta Cormorant
Nina Visitor Sites: Punta Cormorant

Flamingos are not endemic to Galapagos, but these beautiful pink birds are still a favorite. Flamingos eat certain tiny crustaceans that live in brackish salty water. There are only a handful of places in Galapagos that meet the requirements for their very specific food, so there are never more than a few hundred flamingos in Galapagos at any time. They do nest and breed in the islands, so it is possible to see young ones at certain times of the year.

The Galapagos Penguin

Where to see them:

Athala Visitor Sites: Bartolomé
Nina Visitor Sites: Bartolomé, Punta Vicente Roca, Punta Espinosa

The Galapagos Penguin is truly a remarkable bird. Designed for frigid arctic conditions, it somehow adapted enough to be able to live at the Equator! In fact, it’s the only penguin to naturally be found north of the Equator. Very fortunate snorkelers will get to see them swimming: they’re amazingly quick as they dart around, nipping up small fish!

Darwin Finches

Where to see them: all islands

The Galapagos finches will forever be associated with Charles Darwin, the great nineteenth-century naturalist who used them to illustrate his Theory of Evolution. Ages ago, a single finch species made its way to the Galapagos. Today, there are thirteen different species of finch spread out over the islands, each of which has adapted to its specific environment. Your naturalist guide will be happy to point them out to you and explain the adaptations made by each sort of finch over the years!