Tips for Bird Identification in the Galapagos Islands

Our lead guide, Javier, provided wonderful information on birds in the Galapagos Islands. The following represent my notes from the lecture.  Note: "Endemic" means only found at the Galapagos Islands.

Frigate Bird -- Large black bird, the female has a white front, and the male has a red pouch at the neck for attracting females.

Blue Footed Boobies -- Blue feet with a white belly, but you can't see the feet when they are flying. They dive into the water at 50 - 60 miles per hour; the effect of this will eventually make them go blind.

Nazca Boobie -- White with black-lined wings and an orange bill.

Red Footed Boobie -- White and brown, similar to the Nazca Boobie but with a blue beak.  It is found in trees, not on the ground and its coloring is about 96% brown. They can be seen on Genovesa Island.

Red Billed Tropic Bird -- found in cliffs, fast flyers, noisy like sea gulls.

Brown Pelicans -- Clumsy Divers, the only pelican in the Galapagos, wide wing span.

Waved Albatross (Endemic) -- Biggest bird, doesn't stand on land. Reproduce on Hispaniola Island.

Flightless Cormorant (Endemic) -- Tiny wings used for balance, not flying, hops and dives, turquoise eyes.

Galapagos Penguins (Endemic) -- Second smallest penguin, northernmost on the planet, white belly, fast swimmers.

Brown Noddy Tern -- Cliff dwellers, steals the pelican's food.

Swallowtail Gulls (Endemic) -- Red eye ring, nocturnal (can see by the boat if you look out at night).

Whimbrel -- Noisy, chases the Galapagos Hawk with a curved beak.

American Oyster Catcher.

Herons -- Great Blue, Striated, Lava varieties, shoreline birds.

Egret -- Great (as big as a heron, rare), Cattle (common),

American Flamingo.

White Cheeked Pintail Duck -- Saw on Rabida Island.

Galapagos Hawk (Endemic?) -- May see on Fernandina, wing tip separated, light to dark brown.

Galapagos Dove (Endemic?)

Mockingbird.

Dark Billed Cuckoo -- His call announces the rainy season.

Galapagos Flycatcher (Endemic)

Vermilion -- Male impossible to spot.

Yellow Warbler -- Male has red stripes on the chest.

Finches -- 14 varieties, differences in sizes and beaks.