Male frigatebirds, with their balloon-like red sacs, are easy to identify. © WWF-Canon / Martin Harvey

The Galapagos Islands and surrounding waters are home to nearly 9,000 species, most found nowhere else on Earth. But did you know that, despite some of the highest endemism in the world, the islands’ actually have a pretty small bird population? Just 58 species reside there (with 29 of them endemic to the islands)?

Despite the small numbers, these birds are some of the top celebrities of the avian world, thanks to their funny-colored feet, charming courtship rituals and puffy red chests.

How much do you know about the birds of the Galapagos? Take our 10-question quiz to find out.

1. Which bird provided the most striking evidence for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection?

• Mockingbird
• Finch
• Frigatebird

2. What's the most common type of bird throughout the islands?

• Flycatcher
• Booby
• Warbler

3. Why do male frigatebirds inflate their balloon-like red sacs under their beaks?

• To make space for food.
• To help it stay airborne.
• To attract mates.

4. What is unique about the Galapagos cormorant?

• It doesn't have webbed feet.
• It's covered in hair, not feathers.
• It cannot fly.

5. What is the Galapagos penguin's claim to fame?

• It's the only penguin found in the Northern Hemisphere.
• It's the smallest of all penguins.
• It's the only penguin that eats crustaceans.

6. Which bird is considered the biggest scoundrel in the Galapagos, because it makes its living by stealing fish caught by other birds?

• Red-billed tropicbird
• Brown pelican
• Magnificent frigatebird

7. Which graceful bird can spend years at sea without ever touching land?

• Waved albatross
• Yellow warbler
• Droop-billed whimbrel

8. Aside from the red-footed booby, what other bird species has crimson-colored feet?

• Noddy tern
• Swallow-tail gull
• Harlequin ruddy turnstone

9. Why is Cormorant Point on Isabela Island oddly named?

• It's not actually a point, but a small island.
• It's completely submerged under water.
• No cormorants are found there.

10. How many pairs of endemic Galapagos hawks are suspected to remain in the Galapagos?

• 15
• 150
• 15,000

Travel with WWF to the Galapagos, March 30 – April 9, 2012.

Posted in Wildlife | 8 Comments

8 Responses to “Taking Flight: Birds of the Galapagos Quiz”

1. on 08 Apr 2011 at 2:23 pm1Dee Wilder

   What is the cost of a Galapagos trip for age 65 and up?

2. on 04 Jan 2012 at 3:42 am2RQY

   Wow… i didn’t know of such unique specie of birds. Beautiful

3. on 04 Jan 2012 at 5:59 am3fernandowantania

   That was Difficult Quiz .. ><
   But last Night i watched NatGeo and it discuss about Galapagos Island… so, it's little helps me to answer that questions

4. on 04 Jan 2012 at 7:06 pm4elizabeth

   what did i get?

5. on 11 Jan 2012 at 9:11 am5pambirds

   Where is my quiz score? Thanks.

6. on 03 Feb 2012 at 10:53 am6wwftravel

   The quiz is now showing scores again, we apologize for the frustration!

   -WWF Travel Team

7. on 05 Feb 2012 at 6:57 am7Leanne

   Interesting…didn’t know of these birds.

8. on 05 Feb 2012 at 5:32 pm8Gheena Santha

   The Galapagos sounds so amazing!
   I wish I could go there and see all the animals living there!

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