Essential Information on the Galapagos Shearwater
This small black-and-white bird, known as the Galápagos Shearwater, inhabits and breeds on the Galápagos Islands but has also been spotted as far away as Western Mexico and the Central American coast. It was once believed to be a subspecies of another shearwater, but recent classifications have recognized it as a distinct species.
You can observe Galápagos Shearwaters near the shores of their breeding islands, mainly Santa Cruz, Española, and the isolated Wolf Island. They are commonly seen foraging alongside other seabirds like boobies and terns. Characterized by their rapid wing beats and subsequent glides, these birds fly close to the water’s surface, making this flight pattern a key identifier.
While the Galápagos Shearwater is not currently considered endangered, its population has been declining in recent years. The primary threats come from non-native species such as cats and rats, which prey on both young and adult birds in their nests, and from grazing animals like goats that destroy their nesting habitats.
Efforts by the Galápagos National Park to manage these invasive species have helped stabilize the shearwater population. For more detailed information about conservation initiatives in the Galápagos, you can learn more on any of our tour itineraries.
