Bird watching is the reason why Charles Darwin was so fascinated with the Galapagos Islands. He learned about the bird life on the islands and came to study them. Finches garnered most of Darwin’s attention, although he studied other birds and animals.

Seeing the birds is the number one reason why tourists choose the Galapagos Islands as a vacation destination. Yet, the Galapagos Islands have a relatively small bird population – only 58 species. However, 29 of those species can only be found here.

Penguins on the Equator

Even if the Galapagos Islands were to have no other interesting bird life, bird watchers would still want to take advantage of seeing the world’s smallest penguins. Originally a cold-water penguin, the Galapagos penguin migrated to the islands from the South Pole thousands of years ago. Today this species of penguin is found mainly on the Bolivar Channel, between the islands of Isabela and Fernandina.

Other Interesting Birds

There are three varieties of boobies that live on the Galapagos Islands. Boobies are related to pelicans. The three varieties are the Blue-footed Boobie, the Masked Boobie, and the Red-footed Boobie. All three varieties can be found on all of the islands. The Waved Albatross is one of the largest birds on the Galapagos Islands and one of the heaviest of all marine birds. The bird weighs nearly 9 pounds with a 16-foot wing span. The albatross lives on Espanola Island from April through December.

Best Bird Watching Opportunities

It is agreed that the best place to bird watch while visiting the Galapagos Islands is from the cruise ships, particularly the style of cruise where passengers spend most of their time on the ship. One of the reasons the ships makes such good bird watching locations is because the uninhabited islands have the most bird life. Left undisturbed, birders get to see the birds behave most naturally.

There are also bird watching tours that are available on the Galapagos Islands. When looking for a tour, find one with a knowledgeable guide or one who is familiar with bird calls. Using bird calls is the best way to attract tropical birds to show themselves.