Fish swim, birds fly. Not every time. The exception is Galapagos flightless cormorants that cannot fly. While all cormorant species can swim, the Galapagos species can no longer fly. Flightless cormorants have tiny, stubby wings and a restricted geographic range; they are limited to Fernandina Island and the western coast of Isabela Island. Seeing this endangered species in action will undoubtedly rank among the highlights of your Galapagos Islands vacation!
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Galapagos Flightless Cormorants: Swimming Birds
It is a swimming species of cormorant. Fishermen would spend years training the birds to dive into the water while wearing a rope around their necks as part of the traditional Chinese and Japanese cormorant fishing practice. Despite never receiving training, Galapagos cormorants are excellent underwater fishers!
Flightless cormorants have special adaptations for swimming, including solid bones, and fur-like feathers. They usually dive at depths of around 10-15 meters, but are capable of dives as deep as 80 meters.
Galapagos Cormorants: Wings too small for flying
Cormorant birds lost the ability to fly as they adapted to the particular circumstances of the Galapagos Islands. To dive, the Galapagos cormorant needed to become more prominent. Though they are short, stubby, and unable to support the flightless cormorant’s weight in the air, their wings are still present.
Evolutionary scientist Richard Dawkins talks about the bird’s vestiges of wings in this video.
Video credit: Richard Dawkins Foundation for Science
Despite their inability to fly, Galapagos flightless cormorants compensate for their lack of flight ability by becoming superb swimmers and fishermen, navigating through schools of fish and ocean currents with unparalleled skill. They are but another illustration of the many processes involved in the evolution of the Galapagos. To survive, the species of flightless cormorant had to modify its body to fit its surroundings. They serve as a living example of how important flexibility is!
These peculiar and unusual birds are one of the most recognizable animal species in the Galapagos. Consider booking one of our trips through the western islands of the Galapagos, which allows you to make stops at tourist destinations on Fernandina and the west coast of Isabela if you want to see Galapagos cormorants. Remember that you can only view flightless cormorants at these locations and not elsewhere in the archipelago.
Why choose a cruise?
The most excellent way to visit the islands and get up close and personal with the Galapagos BIG15 species, including the Galapagos flightless cormorants, is unquestionably on an adventure cruise. Along with the incredible food and service that is inspired by both local and foreign flavors on our Santa Cruz Galapagos Cruise, you will also have access to a variety of activities, such as kayaking, snorkeling in Galapagos, and our glass-bottom boat for those who would instead not get in the water. Our well-planned schedule ensures that you will frequently have the beaches and sightseeing spots to yourself as we take you to archipelago regions inaccessible to single-guided boats.
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