© TerraQuest 1996. All Rights Reserved
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Introduction Giant Tortoises Land Lizards Insects Plant Life Birds |
Few species of land birds inhabit the Galápagos, and three-quarters
of these are endemic, or occurring only in the archipelago. Unlike
the seabirds, most of which are excellent long-distance fliers,
land birds from the tropics have little cause to make long flights.
Though relatives of all the Galápagos species may be found
on the nearby mainland, only a freak of fate would bring them
out a thousand kilometers from land. This must have happened,
however, at least fourteen times in the past.
With few exceptions, the land birds are a singularly dull-colored lot. As if to make up for this lack of exciting color, their "tameness" is unsurpassed. With attitudes to man that seem to range from indifference, through curiosity and fearlessness, to outright impudence, the Galapagos land birds are a pleasure to watch and study. |