List of birds of the Galápagos Islands

This is a list of birds recorded in the Galápagos islands of Ecuador and contains 181 species[1]

Ducks, geese and swans

Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae

Includes all but 4 species of Anseriformes. They are excellent at an aquatic life thanks to an oily covering on their feathers. 8 species have been recorded in Galápagos

Gamebirds

Order Galliformes Family Phasianidae

Gamebirds are variable birds with mostly terrestrial habits, although some grouse roost in trees. Some are migratory others resident. 4 species in Galápagos

Guineafowl

Order Galliformes Family Numididae

Guineafowl are African gamebirds, mostly spotted, with bare skin on the head and neck to lose heat. 1 species in Galápagos

Grebes

Order Podicipediformes Family Podicipedidae

Grebes are aquatic birds most closely related to flamingoes. They are well adapted to living in water but are clumsy on land, never straying far from water when they build their nests. 1 species in Galápagos

Flamingoes

Order Phoenicopteriformes Family Phoenicopteridae

Flamingoes are water birds with a downcurved beak for sieving food. 1 species in Galápagos

Tropicbirds

Order Phaethontiformes Family Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are seabirds once thought to be closely related to pelicans but now known to belong in a clade known as Metaves. 2 species in Galápagos

Pigeons and doves

Order Columbiformes Family Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are medium to large mostly plump birds. Most are arboreal species descending to the ground to feed but some are terrestrial like the quail-doves of South America or the pheasant-pigeon of New Guinea. They are found worldwide except near the poles and in a wide variety of habitats including urban. The feral form of the rock dove has been introduced worldwide. 3 species in Galápagos

Nighthawks

Order Caprimulgiformes Family Caprimulgidae

Nighthawks belong to the same family as nightjars but are found only in the Americas. They have mottled or striped plumage for camouflage. 1 species in the Galápagos

Swifts

Order Apodiformes Family Apodidae

Swifts are aerodynamic species which are found worldwide. Some species are migratory, others resident and others still have both migratory and resident populations. 1 species in Galápagos

Cuckoos and anis

Order Cuculiformes Family Cuculidae

Cuckoos are found almost worldwide. They are highly variable in size, shape, colour and habits. 3 species in Galápagos

Rails, crakes and gallinules

Order Gruiformes Family Rallidae

Rails are usually secretive birds. Many island species are flightless and many of those have gone extinct in the last 5 centuries. Gallinules are more-tame birds, usually found near or on water. 6 species in Galápagos

Penguins

Order Sphenisciformes Family Spheniscidae

Penguins are southern ocean birds with only one species north of the equator. Small to large in size and mostly black and white in colour. 1 species in Galápagos

Storm petrels

Order Procellariiformes Family Hydrobatidae

Storm petrels are small marine birds mostly black and white. 8 species in Galápagos

Albatrosses

Order Procellariiformes Family Diomedeidae

Albatrosses are large tubenoses with wingspans of more than a meter. Most are southern ocean species but some are found in the north Pacific ocean. 3 species in Galápagos

Petrels and shearwaters

Order Procellariiformes Family Procellariidae

Petrels and shearwaters are known collectively as tubenoses for the tubes on their beaks which they use for excreting salt. 8 species in Galápagos

Herons and egrets

Order Pelecaniformes Family Ardeidae

Herons are long-necked long-legged water birds. The majority feed on fish and other pond-life. 8 species in Galápagos

Pelicans

Order Pelecaniformes Family Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large seabirds, variable in colour but alike in shape, all have a gular pouch to catch fish. 1 in Galápagos

Frigatebirds

Order Suliformes Family Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are black (with some white markings) seabirds. The males have a red throat patch to attract females. 2 in Galápagos

Boobies and gannets

Order Suliformes Family Sulidae

Boobies are seabirds which were once lumped along with darters, cormorants and frigatebirds in Pelecaniformes. Their feet are variously coloured, Black with striped toes in gannets, and grey, red, blue, yellow, black or ochre in boobies. 4 species in Galápagos

Cormorants and shags

Order Suliformes Family Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are seabirds which normally stand upright. Most of them have markings on their face and wings. One species is flightless. 1 in Galápagos

Oystercatchers

Order Charadriiformes Family Haematopodidae

Oystercatchers are black or black and white shorebirds with long orange bills and with or without an eyering. The legs are pinkish. 1 species in Galápagos

Stilts and avocets

Order Charadriiformes Family Recurvirostridae

Stilts are spindly legged birds with black and white markings. 1 species in Galápagos

Plovers and lapwings

Order Charadriiformes Family Charadriidae

Plovers are dull-coloured shorebirds without many distinguishing features. The bill is short and straight to catch worms on the surface. Lapwings are slightly bigger and more colourful shorebirds. Their legs are longer than plover but the bill is the same size with respect to the body. 5 species in Galápagos

Sandpipers and allies

Order Charadriiformes Family Scolopacidae

Sandpipers are long-legged mostly long-billed shorebirds. Some like woodcocks and snipes are forest species but most others are estuarine or wetland species. 25 species in Galápagos

Gulls and terns

Order Charadriiformes Family Laridae

Gulls are seabirds although some are found on freshwater. They have hooked bills and some have hoods or caps on their heads. Terns were usually placed in a family of their own Sternidae but now they are commonly placed along with gulls and skimmers in Laridae. Their bills are straighter than those of gulls. 15 species in Galápagos

Skuas

Order Charadriiformes Family Stercorariidae

Skuas are predatory birds typically separated into the bigger Catharacta skuas and the smaller Stercorarius jaegers. 1 species in Galápagos

Barn owls

Order Strigiformes Family Tytonidae

Barn owls are owls with a heart-shaped face. 1 species in Galápagos

Typical owls

Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae

Typical owls are very variable in size but all share the round face with a short bill and camouflaged plumage. 1 species in Galápagos

Osprey

Order Accipitriformes Family Pandionidae

The osprey is a bird of prey that lives on rivers and lakes. It is a migratory species. Sometimes placed in family Accipitridae although it is its own subfamily. 1 species in Galápagos

Hawks

Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae

Hawks are close relatives of eagles and kites although none of these have been recorded in Galápagos. 1 species in Galápagos

Kingfishers

Order Coraciiformes Family Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are birds normally associated with water, though with some exceptions. The one species in Galápagos is a winter visitor. 1 species in Galápagos

Falcons

Order Falconiformes Family Falconidae

Falcons are streamlined aerodynamic birds of prey traditionslly thought close to the accipitriformes. Recent genetic studies place them closer to parrots. 1 species in Galápagos

Parrots

Order Psittaciformes Family Psittacidae

Parrots are colourful tropical species with a curved bill and zygodactyl feet. Most American species have long tails apart for a few exceptions. 1 species in Galápagos

Tyrant flycatchers

Order Passeriformes Family Tyrannidae

Tyrant flycatchers are a group of American passerines and not related to the old world flycatchers of the family Muscicapidae. 3 species in Galápagos

Swallows and martins

Order Passeriformes Family Hirundinidae

Swallows and martins are passerines not closely related to swifts although they have superficial resemblance. They have short pointed wings. 6 species in Galápagos

Vireos

Order Passeriformes Family Vireonidae

Vireos are small greenish or yellowish birds found in the Americas. 1 species in Galápagos

Waxwings

Order Passeriformes Family Bombycillidae

Waxwings are medium-sized, plump birds. All three species are migratory but occasionally turn up in unexpected places. 1 species in Galápagos

Mockingbirds

Order Passeriformes Family Mimidae

Mockingbirds are an American group of passerine birds. In the Galápagos they are famous (along with Darwin's finches) for confirming Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. 4 species in Galápagos

Cardinals

Order Passeriformes Family Cardinalidae

Cardinals are a group of finch-like birds, mostly colourful with seed-eating beaks and colourful patterns. 4 species in Galápagos

Darwin's finches

Order Passeriformes Family Thraupidae

Although not the only species in the family the Darwin's finches are the only ones in the family to be found in the archipelago. Famous for inspiring Darwin in his theory of evolution, the finches have astonishingly different beaks. 14 species in Galápagos

New world warblers

Order Passeriformes Family Parulidae

New world warblers are not related to the Old world warblers of the families Sylvidae, Acrocephalidae, Phylloscopidae and Cettidae, although some species can turn up in the old world and vice versa. 5 species in Galápagos

New world blackbirds

Order Passeriformes Family Icteridae

The New world blackbirds are small to medium, highly variable birds both in size and shape. As with the warblers they are not related to Old world blackbirds. 2 species in Galápagos

References

  1. ↑ Checklist of the birds of the Galapagos
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