The majestic Enchanted Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean, 972 kilometers off the coast of Ecuador and are surrounded by thousands of miles of open sea. One of the most special attractions of this place, apart from its volcanoes, is its fauna. The Galapagos Islands have numerous of endemic species. Visitors notice about nineteen native species while Biologists estimate that there are 750,000 seabirds in the Galapagos Islands that include thirty percent of the world’s blue-footed boobies. Here are some of the most exotic birds of the Galapagos Islands.
Darwin’s finches
They
are a set of 14 species that inhabit the Galapagos Islands. They were
discovered by Charles Darwin when he studied the link between species
that inhabit different places.
One
of the species is usually called vampire birds. They live in the
northern part of the archipelago, on two islands. It is currently in
danger of extinction. A curious fact of these birds is that they feed
on the blood of other sick birds.
These
are the most peculiar species that inhabit the Galapagos Islands,
although there are many others, such as mockingbirds, marine iguanas,
fur wolves, seagulls, and pelicans.
The Galapagos penguins
This
is an endangered species, also known as “The Galapagos Boobie
Bird”, measures 49 centimeters long and weighs 2 and a half
kilos. It is the second smallest species along with the blue penguin,
which lives in Australia and New Zealand. They dwell around the
coastal caves near the ocean. They tend to prefer mild temperatures
and love to dive in the water to cool off from the sun.
Barely
1,500 specimens of this animal remain, they’re considered the only
penguin species in the northern hemisphere.
Blue-footed
boobies
Most
of the tourists who arrive in the islands seek to see this particular
bird; which, as the name implies, has a striking turquoise blue leg.
The area of the beak and the face is also blue, although a
clearer blue.
The
boobies are everywhere, and they even seem to enjoy the visits
because they stay still while tourists take pictures.
Red-footed
boobies
These
birds are completely brown, except for the red legs and a slightly
blue beak with a red base, they are the smallest boobies of the
Galapagos Islands. The red-footed boobies have a length of 2.5 feet
and a wingspan of 4.5 feet and are easily distinguished by their red
legs.
Red-footed
boobies are seen less frequently. The reason behind this is that they
are only found in the farthest islands such as the Genovesa.
Red-footed boobies feed far into the sea and build their nests in the
trees. These boobies are a must-see animal in the Enchanted Islands.
Frigate
The
frigate is also known as Pirate Bird, they are large and agile, they
have the longest wingspan of almost 8 feet, which is the largest of
any bird on the planet, a black seabird with a long beak and hooked
to catch fish in the surface because unlike other birds they cannot
dive underwater to catch preys.
In
the Galapagos, there are two species of frigates: The Common Frigate
and the Magnificent Frigate. Males have green or purple plumage that
depends on the species, while females have white bottoms with a black
neck.
Red-billed
tropicbird
These
birds are considered the most amazing white birds of the Galapagos,
and their main feature is the long tail of feathers that are as long
as the rest of their body. The red-billed tropicbird is 2.5 in length
including the feathers and has a wingspan of 3.5 feet. Another
notable feature is the coral-red beak and the black eye line. They
feed by diving into the sea looking for fish and squid.
Audubon’s
shearwater
These
medium-sized birds rub close to the water and are always observed
moving either individually or in packs. They are dark brown birds
with white bellies and a white neck. They are often confused with the
Hawaiian petrel, but the size and forehead and white face of the
Hawaiian petrel are distinguished from the Audubon’s shear. They
are often seen near cliffs, where they lay their nests.
Waved
Albatross
The
Waved Albatross is one of the most elegant flying birds that can
spend years at sea without having to reach land, it is also the
largest bird in the Galapagos Islands. Its length measures an average
of 3 feet and has a wingspan of 8 feet and weighs up to 11 pounds.
The truth is that few species of land birds inhabit these islands while an estimated 22 to 23 resident species are endemic to the Galapagos Islands. The fresh, oxygen-rich waters surrounding the islands are one of the most attractive factors for birdlife in the Galapagos.
