Galapagos Islands

All boobies are expert plunge divers that can reach speeds of 90 km/h (56 mph) before touching the water and can swim to depths of 25 m/82 ft in pursuit of their prey. They have special adaptations for these extreme hunting methods: their skulls have special air sacs that protect the brain from large pressures and sudden decelerations, and eyes and nostrils that have adapted to avoid high-pressure water from entering during these swift attacks.

They mostly feed on schooling fish like sardines, anchovies, and mackerels. When the lead bird spots a shoal in the water, it signals the rest of the group and they all execute simultaneous dives. Their sharp beak and arrow-like shape when diving is what gave them the Spanish name of Piquero (pikemen, in English). The other Spanish name, pájaro bobo (silly bird), comes from its funny face, clumsiness on the ground, and adorable courtship dances.

In male red-footed and blue-footed boobies, the brightness of the foot colour marks them as less or more desired individuals to females. Brighter feet tend to indicate higher fertility and the ability to provide paternal care over other males, thus rating them as more suitable. Another interesting fact about all these birds is that they use their webbed feet, along with the heat from their breasts, to incubate the eggs.

Of the 5 different species of Frigatebirds in the world, 2 live in the Galapagos: the Great and the Magnificent. The latter is considered endemic to this archipelago and is the largest of the 5. Actually, compared to their body size, their wingspan is considered the largest in the animal kingdom (up to 2.50 m/8.20 feet while open). The females are black with a white breast and shoulder, while the male is all black with a purple sheen.

The most distinctive physical feature of this bird is the red pouch that males have on their throats, and inflate during the breeding season to attract females. The males sit together as in a social gathering and compete for who has the largest pouch, which is intimidating for their peers and attractive for their mates. After this ritual, they become excellent parents. Laying only one egg, when it hatches, the father cares for the chick for the first 3 months and the mother for a further 9 months. The longest parental care in the bird world. 

Worth mentioning is that Charles Darwin called these ‘Pirate Birds’ because he observed their habit of stealing food from other birds, and because of their long absences from land. On the first point, Frigates chase blue-footed boobies until the point of intimidation, making them vomit so they can steal and feed off the latter’s last meal. On the second point, they use their enormous wings to navigate air currents for long periods of time without eating or touching land. Truly magnificent!

The first person who observed a Penguin at the Galapagos islands must have thought of it as a surreal sight. Through millions of years, these birds have evolved anatomical characteristics to live in the cold, and life in warm climates would make their survival impossible. The reason why it is feasible for Galapagos to have its own Penguin is the presence of the Humboldt Current. 

This is an oceanic current that flows at approximately 16 °or 61 °F (very low compared to the ‘normal’ 25 °C or 77 °F in other regions) that brings nutrients that allow Penguins to thrive in the very tropical Galapagos islands. Sadly, they are considered to be in danger of extinction, because of their high sensitivity to the impacts of climate change, as well as of plastic pollution. 

You can help to protect the fragile population of the Galapagos Penguin (below 2000 birds) by donating to the Galapagos Conservation Trust’s program Adopt a Penguin.

If you think of birds as extraordinary creatures and you feel enraptured by their sight (like we do), you should plan your visit to the Galapagos so you don’t miss the show put on by the Albatross. They are large, fluffy birds with enormous wings, creamy-white heads, and chestnut brown bodies. From April to June, they engage in one of the most beautiful courtship rituals among birds. 

Their performance includes bill circling, bill clacking, head nodding, a waddle, and even sounds that resemble a cow’s moo. This elaborate dance marks the occasion when two birds will unite as a monogamous couple for the rest of their lives. You can observe this ritual in Punta Suarez, on Española Island. 

This is a rocky plateau, eroded by millions of years of harsh winds and storms, where Albatrosses establish their organized communities. Each couple selects a solid and clear ground to lay the egg and make it roll over to improve hatching success. The juveniles attend the cliffs of the island to learn to fly by jumping into the abysm. And the chicks are organized in nurseries where they will safely remain while the adults are away at sea. 

Organize your trip to Española island bearing in mind that from December to April, they massively leave Española island towards the inaccessible eastern seas of Galapagos, where they will sit above the water feeding on squids and surface fisheries until the next breeding season.

This is one of the animals that likely induced Charles Darwin to consider (and develop) his theory of the evolution of the fittest. When the Flightless Cormorant first arrived at the Galapagos, it had functional wings for the same reasons all birds do: to escape predators and to travel to find better sources of food. 

These survival priorities changed about 2 million years ago when this bird arrived at the insulated lava shorelines of the Galapagos. First, it encountered zero land predators, so it gradually lost the motivation to fly for escape. And second, it soon learned that the seas below its feet provided the most stable and secure food source. 

The best swimmers among the Cormorants were the best fed, and consequently the most successful in passing their genes to the next generation. And this is how the Flightless Cormorant was originated. Its wings lost the ability to fly but became powerful underwater propellers. The birds’ lifecycle became so intermingled with water, that even its mating ritual happens at sea. Male and female swim with their necks intertwined, twirling in a circular dance. Next, they walk to the shore and build a nest together where they’ll lay their eggs. 

If you want to marvel at this proof of natural selection, plan a visit with us to the Isabela and Fernandina islands, the exclusive dwellings of the Flightless Cormorant.

Of the 15 species of Finch present in the Galapagos, 13 are considered endemic, and they all descend from one ancestral species. What is astonishing to scientists, is that each one of these developed unique morphologies that enabled them to be simultaneously competitive. For example, the ground finch developed a thick beak adapted to feeding on hard seeds and robust arthropods, while the warbler finch developed a slender bill perfect for catching other types of elusive insects that hide between the foliage. The woodpecker finch even learned to use cactus spines as a tool for prying small animals out of tree holes. This disconcerting specificity of adaptation has enabled the parallel success of various species, and even the apparition of new ones up to our days. 

Also notably, each species of Finch has its own song. Sadly, one of these is at risk of going mute forever. The Mangrove Finch has gone extinct across much of its range, and only a population of 100 birds remain on the northwest coast of Isabela Island. Threatened by habitat destruction and predation by rats, their recovery has been very difficult. You can help the conservation efforts by donating to the Mangrove Finch Project, run by the Galapagos Conservation Trust.

The Galapagos sea lions are one of the most iconic species of the archipelago. They can be quite large, with a length that can range from 1.50 m/4.9 ft to 2.50 m/8.2 ft, and can weigh up to 250 kilos/550 lb. Regardless of this, they are incredibly agile swimmers that can hold their breath for more than 20 minutes and feed regularly on small fish, squids, and other mollusks. They also eat a lot! An average male can eat 13-20 kg/30-45 lb every day!

Sea lions have physiological differences between genders. The males are much larger than females (two to four times their size) and also develop a large sagittal crest on the skull as they begin puberty. They are sexually active at six years old but continue developing until about ten years old. Males typically live about 18 years due to all the energy expenditure during their reproductive life, while females tend to live up to 24 years old.

Males are also very territorial. When a colony is formed, the alpha male will reproduce and take care of the entire group. These colonies can be very large, with hundreds of individuals. During mating season, males become more territorial and loud and often fight for territory and reproduction. Females have a gestation period of 11 months. They will feed the pup for up to three years, although it will learn to swim and hunt much earlier. Both genders have strong frontal fins that allow them to walk inland and, although they can climb rocks, prefer sandy beaches.

The Galapagos fur seal is the smallest species of the seal family. It is less social than its cousin, the Galapagos sea lion, and also more nocturnal and rarer to see. There are much fewer fur seals than sea lions because they were hunted constantly in the 19th century for their fur. Another interesting difference with sea lions is that they prefer rocks over sandy beaches, and are one of the fluffiest of the seal family!

They are mostly found in the islands of Santiago and Genovesa and feed on squids and small fish. They have very sharp nocturnal hunting techniques and tools, like their big eyes and whiskers. Another difference with sea lions is that females are very territorial creatures, and they will claim an area of the beach to take care of the pup.

Males can have territories that average 200 m2, which is large in comparison with Sealion males. This species also has the lowest reproductive rate in seals, and this issue worsens in times when food is scarce. El Niño effect has a large impact on their populations and affects especially pups that are born with an older sibling that is still suckling.

There are two kinds of whales that pass through the Galapagos: the ones with teeth and the ones that are filter-feeders. The baleen whales are the largest mammals on the planet, and almost all species of rorquals (a subspecies of the baleen whales) have been seen in the Galapagos, including the largest animal to have ever lived: the blue whale! These feed by filtering the water they swallow with their baleen and trapping plankton and krill inside their mouths.

On the other hand, orcas and sperm whales (all members of the dolphins family) feed on fish. They have very interesting and developed hunting techniques and are considered among the smartest animals on Earth.

Almost all of these whales pass through the Galapagos as a part of their long migration routes. They are most often seen during the cold season, occurring from June to November, following the increase in food that the water currents bring. The most common one is the humpback whale, which displays spectacular jumps out of the water. They can jump up to 14 m/45 ft high!

Other dolphins that are common sights are the bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin, and Risso’s dolphin. They can be seen in pods and in open waters, and can sometimes swim along with other cetaceans or play with the ship’s or speedboat’s wake. Their diet consists mainly of small fish, squids, and crustaceans, and also have very complex and cunning hunting techniques. Dolphins tend to be friendly, playful and curious animals, and there are countless stories of them helping injured people or protecting them against sharks.