Galápagos Birds: Boobies, Frigates & Flightless Cormorants
The Galápagos has 28 endemic bird species and extraordinary wildlife viewing of species unbothered by human presence; blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, Galápagos penguins, and flightless cormorants are among the most iconic
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Blue-footed Booby Dance
The blue-footed booby - with its improbably blue feet - performs an elaborate courtship dance, lifting each foot to display its color to potential mates; the bluer the feet (indicating health and youth), the more attractive the male; the dance can be observed up close at North Seymour and other locations near Puerto Ayora
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Magnificent frigate bird display
The magnificent male frigatebirds inflate their scarlet throat pouch to enormous size during the breeding season - the inflated red balloon, outstretched black wings and rattling call make for an extraordinary display; the frigatebird colonies at North Seymour are the most accessible from Puerto Ayora
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Flightless Cormorant
The flightless cormorant—found only on the islands of Isabela and Fernandina—has evolved useless rudimentary wings in the absence of predators; it is one of only three flightless seabirds in the world; the cormorant's vigorous swimming and its comical wing-wiping posture are uniquely Galápagos
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Waved Albatross
The wavy albatross – the largest bird in the Galápagos – breeds exclusively on the island of Española (reached by day trip from Puerto Ayora); The pair-bonding dances of albatrosses, with beak fighting, head nodding and moonwalking, are among the most elaborate courtship behaviors in the animal world
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Galápagos Hawk Hunting
The Galápagos hawk – an apex predator – can be observed hunting from perches on rocks and fence posts; the hawks' indifference to human presence (they have no developed fear of humans) allows extraordinary close observation; the hawks hunt Galápagos mockingbirds, lizards and large insects
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Nazca and red-footed tits
Galápagos also has Nazca tits (white with black masks) and red-footed tits; the three booby species occupy different ecological niches - inshore bluefoot, offshore Nazca and deep water redfoot - a textbook example of ecological character shift