Boobies
A member of the Gannet family, boobies are about the size of a small goose. They have long necks and make hooting and whistling noises. There are three species of boobies in the Galápagos Islands: the blue-footed, red-footed and Nazca boobies. Blue-footed Boobies are known for (naturally) their bright blue feet: they nest right in the middle of walking trails and are seen almost anywhere. You can even see them dive for fish if you are lucky! Red-footed Boobies nest in low trees on certain islands. Nazca Boobies are white with a black “mask.” They are closely related to Masked Boobies, which they greatly resemble. They nest on cliffs and rocks.
Frigatebirds
There are two species of frigatebirds in the Islands, the Great Frigatebird and the Magnificent Frigatebird. They are difficult to tell apart, as both are large, black birds with hooked beaks. Your naturalist guide will be able to tell them apart, however: Great Frigatebirds are slightly smaller and have a slightly greenish sheen to their feathers. Both species of frigates are known for the red chest sac that the males inflate during the mating season to impress potential mates.
Frigates are known as “the pirates of the air” because they often attack and steal food from other birds, such as boobies.
Waved Albatross
The Waved Albatross makes its home on only one island in the whole world: Española, in the southeast corner of the islands. Waved Albatrosses are large, attractive birds with white and yellow markings. During the mating season (March to January) they nest in the rocky fields of Española, each pair producing only one chick. From January to March, you are unlikely to see any as they leave for weeks to feed in deep waters off the coast of western South America.
Galápagos Penguin
The Galápagos Penguin is the answer to a trivia question: what is the only species of penguin to be found naturally north of the equator? This endemic little bird is found on rocky shores of islands in the western and central parts of Galápagos. One of the smaller species of penguin, they are excellent swimmers, diving in groups to snatch small fish. Very fortunate snorkelers may get the chance to see one in action.
Flightless Cormorant
A great example of Darwin’s theories concerning evolution, the endemic Flightless Cormorant is a brown bird with striking turquoise eyes that is found on Fernandina and Isabela islands. Ages ago, the first cormorants arrived to the Galápagos, and they could fly. Over the years, these cormorants, lacking land-based predators, lost the ability to fly, although they still have weak wings. Instead they swim, diving skillfully to catch their prey, mostly fish, eels and octopi.
Herons
Herons are long-legged birds with sharp, pointed bills that are commonly seen along shores and in tidal pools in the islands, looking to grab an unsuspecting fish or small crustacean. Two of the species, the Great Blue and Striated Herons, are very common around the world, but look out for the endemic Lava Heron, which is about the size of a parrot and is all gray, blending in nicely with the lava rocks of the tidal pools where it hunts. You may also see the more elusive Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, easily identified by the tuft of yellow feathers over its eyes.
Other Birds
These are only a few of the birds found in the Enchanted Islands. There are many more, including flamingos, pelicans, mockingbirds, petrels and, of course, the famous finches that inspired Charles Darwin to develop his theories.
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