Introduction
Intertidal Life
Sea Turtles
Land Iguanas
Marine Iguanas
Sea Lions
Fur Seals
Birds
Herons
Flamingo
Residents
Migrants
|
There are two ducks species in the Galápagos islands, both
of which are found elsewhere in the Americas. The White-cheeked
pintail (Anas bahamensis), also called the Bahama pintail,
has a wide range from shore to highlands, feeding on small birds
and insects as well as fresh-water vegetation in shallow ponds.
The Blue-winged teal (Anas discours), a common puddle-duck
of North and South America, is less frequently seen here as well.
The American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) is
a distinctively marked long-legged bird of the shoreline, found
throughout the Americas. The endemic race of some nesting 200
pairs is slightly darker -- a common adaptation among Galápagos
wildlife, due to the dark lava environment. Oystercatchers feed
on shellfish (as might be inferred by their name), and rarely
fly, preferring to pick their way among the lava rocks of the
shore. They lay two speckled eggs in a simple rock hollow, and
the young are born ready to forage within days.
Another wading resident is the Common stilt (Himantopus
himantopus), a handsome black-necked bird with white breast
and face, and red legs. A resident bird of the low-lying lagoons, like
the flamingo and pintail, the stilt probes the mud for food with
its narrow black bill.
|
