What is the best time to visit the Galapagos Islands?
12/04/2023
A Galapagos cruise, the romantic honeymoon cruise through the Enchanted Islands
11/06/2023Tips for birdwatching in Galapagos
Slowly approaching that rock, trying to crouch down a little more and holding the camera with both hands to capture the perfect photo of that group of birds that tell so many stories, stories of old times,, stories of the evolution of species that are adapt to your reality, while you are here; So do you, changing with time.
This archipelago is an unmissable destination for bird lovers, basically they are everywhere; while you walk the streets or walk on the beach. The birds in Galapagos are one of the biggest reasons why people visit these islands; you may not know it now, or before arriving in the Galapagos; but it’s easy to fall in love with the distinctive colors of these flying friends and is something that happens to all of us, all the time.
Focusing on why this archipelago is a fascinating place for birdwatchers, the Galapagos Islands have around 169 species of birds, 105 of which vary between residents or regular migrants and the remaining 64 arrive in the Galapagos irregularly, according to the latest update of the field guide for land birds in Galapagos.
The birds of Galapagos are a tale from the past.
The adventures of Charles Darwin traveling the world and imagining other possibilities than those established at the time is truly a fascinating story.
The diversity of species that he saw on one of his adventures, when he arrived in the Galapagos, fascinated him and were key to his book “The origin of species through natural selection”, he talked about giant tortoises, for which the islands bear their name; but it was the diversity of species of birds that captivated him and inspired him to think about theories of evolution.
The birds that inhabit this island exhibit an incredible capacity for adaptation, there are so many, of so many colors and sizes, each one very different from the other. Cormorants, for example, do not fly, but they dive and swim in the sea to catch their prey much better than other birds in Galapagos.
What species of birds in Galapagos will I find?
It is important to know that as a general classification of birds in Galapagos these are divided into Terrestrial Birds: those that feed on seeds and those that find their food in the soil of the islands; and seabirds, those species that spend most of their lives flying over the sea and depend on it for food.
Galapagos Penguin
This is one of the endemic species of Galapagos, and is the northernmost penguin species in the world, this little friend can swim up to 35 km per hour. It reached the Galapagos and lives there thanks to the cold Humboldt currents and the Cromwell current.
Although the Galapagos penguins inhabit mainly Fernandina Island and west of the coast of Isabela, there are small groups that spread throughout the archipelago.
Nazca Booby
Nesting in the cliffs of the Genovesa Islands, or flying over the coasts of the Española Island and San Cristóbal Island, you will be able to observe a unique genetic species: the Nazca booby.
It does not have such vibrant colors on its legs, but it is the largest species of booby that inhabits the Galapago; and constantly flies over the sea to catch sardines, anchovies and squid for food. To achieve this, this bird usually dives into the sea from 10 meters high to reach 3 or 4 meters deep.
Albatross
An imposing bird with a white neck, dark brown wings, and a yellow bill. The albatross is the largest bird in the archipelago and you can see it nesting on the ground, specifically in lava areas.
It follows straight routes and on its journey it feeds on fish, crustaceans and squid. During their mating period you can see them dancing in synchronized movements to get their partner’s attention.
Flightless Cormorants
We already said it, the flightless cormorants are the only ones of this species that don’t fly and are great divers. They are very rare and only inhabit the Galapagos. This species is one of the best examples of “natural selection”; and feeds on the prey it catches when it submerges in the water. In addition, it does not go farther than 200 meters from the coast.
You can see the flightless cormorant galapagos in Fernandina island and Isabela island making their nests with seaweed and remains of tropical fish and starfish.
Blue-footed booby
Blue-footed boobies are one of the species that you can see in almost all the Galapagos islands. This seabird is not usually afraid of humans and their movements often seem funny to us when on land, but they are indeed agile swimmers.
One of our favorite sights of blue-footed boobies is their courtship ritual, as the male gives the female a natural gift, usually small stones or sticks, and then begins a dance around to be chosen while displaying the brilliant color of its legs.
Red-footed booby
Red-footed boobies are native birds of the Galapagos, this species of booby is very special because it makes its nests with branches of trees or bushes and spends much of its life on land despite being a seabird.
The largest population of red-footed boobies is found on San Cristóbal Island, especially in Punta Pitt.
How to make the most of bird watching in the Galapagos?
Bring binoculars.- You certainly don’t want to miss out on all the life that inhabits the island, and you can use them not only to watch birds. While on your Galapagos cruise, you may spot dolphins jumping close to the ship or whales surfacing.
Take distance.- We recommend keeping a distance of at least 2 meters so as not to alter the behavior of the birds in Galapagos and other animals, in addition to maintaining your safety.
No flash.- When you use your camera make sure to keep the flash off, otherwise you could scare away the birds in Galapagos; also keep the phone on silent or vibration mode.
Travel on a cruise.- No Galapagos island is the same as the other; To see more birds, take a cruise, so you will also see all the other species that inhabit different islands and you will have more incredible experiences.
Respect the signposting.- If this is the first time you visit the Galapagos Islands, you should know that they are very strict with signposting and therefore you must comply with the instructions of your guide so as not to bother the local fauna.
Wear comfortable clothing.- With simple colors that are not so bright and comfortable shoes to move easily on natural terrain.
BirdsEye Galapagos.- This app allows you to identify the birds in Galapagos and gives you very interesting information about them.
What is the best time to see birds in Galapagos?
It is always a good time to travel to the Galapagos Islands. Located in the tropical zone and so close to the equatorial line, its climate changes only in two seasons, the wet and the dry; each is good for bird watching in the Galapagos, because there are few migratory species.
However, there are special dates for some species; the albatross, for example, chooses the beginning of April to build its nests.
During the dry season there is usually less rain and more sun, in general the heat bathes the islands and the weather is perfect for activities on land such as panga rides, hikes, and visiting the scientific centers of the islands. The wet season, on the other hand, usually comes with more rain and cloudier days.
We prefer the transition months, between April and May when the weather of the Galapagos Islands is quite pleasant and there are many more opportunities to see migratory birds that come to take shelter from the northern climate.
If you want the best time of the day to see birds in the Galapagos, it is best to get up very early and enjoy the first hours of the day to listen to their song and see them while they look for food, you can also choose the afternoon, during the hours that the day receives the last rays of sun while the birds in Galapagos move to their resting areas.
Which islands should I visit if I want to see birds in Galapagos?
Some point to Genovesa Island and Española Island as the best sites for birding in Galapagos. The main reason is that the largest population of waved albatross in the world is sheltered on Española Island. The first days of April arrive and an amazing courtship show begins, where the males dance around the females to impress them and start a family. This takes place until December, which is the season where they leave the islands.
Genovesa Island is certainly smaller, but it has an impressive variety of fauna, if you walk around here with your naturalist guide he will help you identify various species such as: red-footed boobies, frigate birds, Galapagos doves, masked boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and many more. It is certainly an unmissable place for every bird lover.
Which Galapagos birding tours should I choose?
It is best to choose a cruise to the Galapagos Islands, because you will visit various points of the Galapagos Islands. It is ideal to choose a tour that takes you to Genovesa Island and Española Island, because these are the favorites of birdwatchers.
We recommend one of our tours to the Galapagos Islands that includes both islands, and where you will always have certified naturalist guides that will help you identify all the birds you will see.
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