Fernandina Island

What a wonderful "cucuve" that we saw this afternoon! One of the first birds to greet you at almost every landing site will be the inquisitive mocking bird. The mockers found on Fernandina belong to the most widespread mockingbird species in Galapagos. These are common throughout the central and western islands. Though omnivorous, the mockingbirds of this archipelago are distinctly predatory when compared to their mainland relatives. The social behavior of these birds is unusual and of course, very interesting, particularly on Genovesa and Espanola Islands. On these two islands, mockingbirds form cooperative-breeding groups, which consist of a breeding male and female plus offspring from their previous broods. These young birds assist their parents in territory maintenance and help to raise the next brood. Unlike the North American mockingbird, Galapagos mockers are not mimics though they make a few varied calls.