Endemic to the archipelago, it is found nowhere else on Earth, making it a symbol of the islands’ fragile biodiversity. Medium-sized and graceful, the petrel has a slim body built for soaring over the open ocean, with long, narrow wings, dark brown upperparts, and a contrasting white underside. At sea, it is often seen gliding effortlessly above the waves, sometimes for hours without flapping, taking full advantage of ocean winds.
Like many petrels, it spends most of its life at sea, only returning to land to breed. Remarkably, Galápagos petrels are known to travel thousands of kilometers over the Pacific Ocean in search of squid, small fish, and other marine prey. Yet, despite ranging so widely across the ocean, they are completely dependent on the Galápagos Islands for nesting. They dig burrows or use natural crevices in the highland soils of islands such as Santiago, Floreana, San Cristóbal, Isabela, and Santa Cruz, where the cool, misty highland climate provides the right conditions for raising their chicks.
Their breeding behavior reveals just how adapted they are to island life. Pairs form long-term bonds and usually return to the same nesting site year after year. The female lays a single egg, and both parents take turns incubating and later feeding the chick, bringing back meals of partially digested squid and fish. Because the petrels nest in burrows hidden in soft volcanic soil, their colonies are often invisible to casual visitors, giving them an almost secretive presence on the islands. Historically, these birds were abundant, but their populations have suffered steep declines due to the introduction of predators such as rats, cats, and pigs, which raid nests and eat eggs or chicks. Habitat destruction has also affected their fragile highland nesting areas.
Distribution
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
El Salvador
French Southern T.
Guatemala
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Peru
PhilippinesAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic / Monomorphic (size)
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
