The Galapagos hawk is found exclusively in the Galapagos Islands. The adult Galapagos hawk is almost completely different shades of brown and the female is larger than the male with an average size of 56 cm in length. It is one of the few terrestrial predators on the islands and has no natural enemies.

Their nests, which they usually build in trees, become fairly large over time as they are re-used at each breeding season, with some new twigs added each time. The Galapagos hawk has earned a reputation in the avian world as a notorious non-conformist due to its rare mating system known as polyandry – one female with multiple male mates. The Galapagos hawk female is known to have up to four mates at a time. This unusual mating system is reportedly only found in 12 out of 9,000 bird species in the world. All the males in the relationship assist in caring for the eggs and the hatchlings.

The Galapagos hawk is both a hunter and a scavenger. No other bird of prey is known to be as fearless as the Galapagos hawk as it hunts down just about anything smaller than itself that moves including lizards, young iguanas, doves, rats, centipedes, grasshoppers and other birds. As a scavenger it will also feed on virtually any dead animal such as marine iguanas, sea lions, sea birds and even fish that may wash up on the beach. The young Galapagos hawk is known to be very curious and visitors may find a Galapagos hawk getting too close for comfort in order to take a good look.

The Swainson’s hawk, which resides in the prairie regions of North America, migrating annually to South America for the winter months, is the closest relative of the Galapagos hawk. Because of their nearly identical mitochondrial DNA, they are often referred to as sister species. It is feasible that the Swainson’s hawk could have been blown off course during its annual migration and landed on the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador, thereafter adapting to its environment. Despite the close genetic relationship between these two hawks though, unlike the Galapagos hawk, the Swainson’s hawk is a monogamous breeder. More recent research being carried out on the DNA sequences of feather lice taken from the Galapagos hawk is giving further insight into its evolutionary history. By tracing the family tree of the feather lice, scientists are demonstrating how symbionts of larger species can reveal a great deal about the history of that species. It will be interesting to see what future discoveries will be made about this interesting bird, the Galapagos hawk.

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Penguins live in icy waters. The Emperor Penguin, in particular faces cold weather, living in Antarctica. It faces quite a challenge: how to keep its body temperature at 100-102 degrees Fahrenheit, when the winter air it lives in may be a full 200 degrees colder!

Penguin feathers are their main defense against Antarctic cold. These bird species‘ feathers are densely packed, with up to 70 per square inch. The feathers are stiff and form a tightly-overlapping shield against wind, storms, and cold water. Under the penguin’s skin, they also have a thick layer of fat, for extra insulation. And on the coldest days at their breeding grounds, Emperor Penguins huddle together for warmth.

Penguins are so good at keeping warm that their bigger challenge is staying cool! On an above-freezing day in Antarctica, the Emperors could easily overheat, with all their thick layers of feather and fat. And some penguins live in far warmer places. The Galapagos Penguin, which lives near the equator, deals with days that are 70 degrees Fahrenheit!

How do they stay cool enough? Holding their flippers away from their body can help dissipate heat. Warmer-weather penguins like the Galapagos have bare skin patches on their face, to dissipate heat as well. These warm-weather penguins are also only found where the water temperatures are quite cool.

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South America

• The Galapagos Islands are home to the Galapagos penguin. This bird lives closer to the Equator than any other penguin. They are found on the islands of Isabela, Fernandina, and Bartolome.

• Chile and Peru both have penguins living at offshore islands. Try southern Peru’s coast for the Peruvian Penguin, or the Chilean waters around Puntas Arenas for the Magellenic Penguin.

• The Falkland Islands, east of Argentina, are home to the world’s largest colonies of Rockhopper Penguins, living alongside Gentoo, King and Macaroni Penguins.

Southern Africa

• The coasts of South Africa and Namibia are the only home of the Jackass Penguin. Visitors may also glimpse a Rockhopper and King Penguin here.

Australia/New Zealand:

• Visit Stewart Island, New Zealand, for colonies of Fjordland and Little Blue Penguins.

• The entire Southern Coast of Australia gets regular visits from several penguin species, including the crested Rockhopper Penguin.

• Philip Island, in Victoria, Australia, is famous for its spectacular Little Blue Penguin show. Over a thousand wild penguins return to shore each evening, to the delight of visiting penguin watchers.

A visit to any of these exotic bird watching destinations will prove to be a memorable experience for any bird enthusiasts that love penguins whether they be found in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere! Editor’s note: Our two favorite places to watch penguins are in South Africa and in the Galapagos Islands off the Coast of Ecuador.

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