Wildlife of the Galapagos Islands Photo Gallery

South America Travel


	One of the most common shorebirds seen along the coast of Ecuador and the Galapagos is the Magnificent frigatebird, a member of the pelican family.
	Frigatebirds are large, mostly black, soaring birds with a wing span of more than six ft (2 m). They have a long, forked tail and great flexibility in the air, allowing them to intimidate smaller birds into giving up their prey. This female is incubating the single egg that frigatebirds lay in nests along the shore. Both parents guard the nest in turn, keeping other frigatebirds away.

	Male frigatebirds inflate their red throat pouches during courtship to attract females.
	Frigatebirds and pelicans compete for the same food source. Frigatebirds never land in water, although they will skim the surface and dip their long bills into water for a drink.