Galapagos wildlife

Shore Birds

Lava Heron
Lava Herons are the only endemic specie of herons on the island. It's dark plumage helps it blend into the lava shores where it hunts for food. They breed year round, but the preferred time is from September to March. They can be found on all coastal areas of the islands.

Yellow-Crowned Heron
This stocky, grey heron has nocturnal habits but can sometimes be spotted during the day in shaded areas along the coasts of all the islands.  They breed all year round in single pairs, making their nests in mangroves or under rocks.

Great Blue Heron
Despite their name, great blue herons are really mostly grey in color.  They breed year round, often making nests in mangroves.  They are usually seen alone but occasionally in pairs on the coastal areas of all but the northern islands.

Greater Flamingo
These large, pink, long necked birds are instantly recognizable.  They breed in small colonies year round but especially from January to May.  They are mostly seen in salty lagoons in Floreana, Jervis and Santiago islands.

American Oystercatchers
These birds are unmistakable with their black and white plumage, yellow eyes and pink feet.  They nest mainly from October to March in solitary pairs.  Although only between 100 and 200 pairs exist on the Galapagos, they are spread out along rocky coasts on most of the islands and are frequently seen.

Land Birds

Darwin's Finches
Endemic to the Galapagos, the 13 species of Darwin's finches are the most famous and biologically important birds on the island.  The birds are thought to have descended from a common ancestor, it will take an export to tell them apart.  They can be found spread throughout all the islands.

Galapagos Doves
Endemic to the islands, these colorful doves are the only resident member of the pigeon family on the Galapagos.  Breeding occurs year round.  They are often seen in the drier portions of several islands.

Galapagos Hawk
These endemic hawks are the only raptors which breed on the Galapagos.  Their relative fearlessness has led to their extinction by hunters on several islands and now only 100 hawks remain.  They breed year round but mostly from May to July, and practice cooperative polyandry where two males mate with the female and help raise the young.  They are most common on the outlying islands such as Espanola, Santa Fe, Isabela and Fernandia.

Galapagos Mockingbird
There are four species of mocking birds on the Galapagos, the Galapagos, hood, Charles and Chatum mockingbird, all epidemic to the islands.  They are all very similar to each other, except for their bills which vary in shape and size.  They can be found on most of the islands.

Yellow Warbler
The tiny Yellow Warbler is easily distinguished because it is the only bright yellow bird on the islands.  The male has red streaks on the chest.  They are very abundant and can be seen throughout the Galapagos.

Vermillion Flycatcher
The adult male vermillion flycatcher is unmistakable with his bright red and black plumage.  The female is brown with  yellowish plumage beneath.  They breed primarily during the rainy season and are commonly seen throughout the highlands of most islands.  The best place to see them is in the trees and shrubs around the calderas of Los Gemelos in the Santa Cruz highlands.

Short-Eared Owl
Short-eared owls are diurnal and so are occasionally seen during the day.  They breed year round but prefer the rainy season.  They can be found on all the main islands, but are most common on Santa Cruz and Tower.

 top

Fish

White-Banded Angelfish
These fish are black in color with a white vertical stripe, a bright orange tail and sharp spines on their gill cover.  Commonly seen near rocks.

Creole Fish
Small grey fish with red bellies, commonly seen in large schools around reef areas, especially Devil's Crown just off of Punta Cormoran on Floreana.

Flying Fish
These fish have greatly enlarged pectoral fins which enable them to propel themselves out of the water and "fly" for several seconds and over a hundred yards.

Hieroglyphic Hawkfish
A small predator fish completely camouflaged with stripes and bands.

Moorish Idol
A fish adorned with black, white & yellow bands with a long, streaming, white dorsal fin.

Moray Eel
A snake-like predator fish which waits in the crevices and caverns of rocks for unsuspecting prey.  Although normally harmless, moray eels will bite when provoked.

Blue Parrot Fish
These fish are named for the male's blue-green color as well as for their fused teeth which look like a parrot's beak.  They are frequently seen around reefs.

Concentric Pufferfish
These swallow water fish are named for their unusual ability to "puff up" by sucking in water to scare predators.  They are further protected by a poisonous substance covering their skin. 

Cow-Nosed Ray
The cow-nosed ray is easily distinguished by its cow-like nose and mustard-yellow color.  They are most commonly seen swimming along the surface at Black Turtle Cove in Santa Cruz.

Manta Ray
The manta ray is the largest of the rays around the Galapagos with a diameter of 10-20 feet. They are less commonly seen since they prefer the deeper offshore waters, but they are occasionally spotted leaping out of the water.

Spotted Eagle Ray
The name of the spotted eagle ray is derived from their graceful swimming motion, in which they appear to be flying with their wing-like pectoral fins.  They are mainly found swimming and occasionally leaping on the surface of Black Turtle Cove in Santa Cruz.

Sting Ray
Although not aggressive, sting rays will use their poisonous stings if stepped on, so it is a good idea to shuffle your feet as you enter the water, particuarly around the beach of Punta Cormoran on Floreana Island where most of sting rays live.

Galapagos Shark
The Galapagos shark can reach a length of 10-12 feet and is found in depths varying from 16-2000 feet deep.

Hammerhead Shark
The hammerhead shark is named for its long, lateral, hammer-like head. 

top