Galapagos Petrel
"The Web-Footed One"
What you need to know about the Galapagos Petrel
Galápagos Petrels are seabirds native to the Galápagos Islands. Despite making the Galápagos their home all year round they have been spotted as far away as northern South America and the Central American coastline in their hunt for their favourite foods - squid, crustaceans and small fish. Like many seabirds they spend most of their time living out at sea when the mating season starts in April they can be seen in the damp highland areas of several of the Galápagos Islands, including but during the breeding season, which starts in late April, they can be found in the humid highlands of several of the islands, including Santa Cruz, Floreana, Santiago, San Cristobal and Isabela.
Galápagos Petrels are medium-sized birds with long wings, grey-black coloring on their belly and with white forehead markings. Their legs are pink with black webs. Their most distinctive feature is their short, hook-shaped bill with nostrils that meet at the top which is a feature shared by all petrel species.
Galápagos Petrels return to the same nesting site every year and they tend to mate for life. Unlike other petrels around the world which dig burrows, the Galápagos Petrels have adapted to the rocky, volcanic archipelago and they will often use natural gaps in the rocks as nests.
You can see Galápagos Petrels foraging for food all year round in the Galápagos, and your Galapatours naturalist guides will point them out to you and explain more about their life cycle and habits. If you visit the islands between April and October then you may encounter them nesting inland if you have an excursion into one of the highlands where they breed. Speak to one of our Galápagos experts who can advise you on the best itineraries to choose to maximise your chances of seeing Galápagos Petrels
Interesting facts about Galapagos Petrel
The Galápagos Petrel is known to locals as patapegada, or "web-footed one."
The population of Galápagos Petrels has declined by over 80% in the last 60 years
Galápagos petrels reuse the same nest for year after year
Galápagos Petrels prey mainly on squirrel fish, flying fish, skipjack tuna and goatfish