Unique animals of the Galapagos Islands: Waved albatross
Waved albatross https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waved_albatross
The largest bird found on the Galapagos is the waved albatross. It’s also the only species of albatross found entirely in the tropics. Though the species soars over long distances, it breeds exclusively on the Galapagos Islands.
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Description
The Galapagos albatross reaches a length of 89 cm and weighs about 2 kg, with a wingspan of 230-240 cm. The head is mostly white, the crown and occiput are yellowish. The chin, throat and chest are also white with a gray worm-like pattern, especially on the sides of the chest and torso. The belly is chocolate brown. The upper part of the body is chestnut in color, on the back of the head, tail and tail coverts there is also a grayish worm-like pattern, the lower part of the tail with a pale spot and worm-like pattern contrasts with the chocolate brown tail. The wings on the upper side are chocolate-brown without a pattern, the shaft of the flight feathers is a distinct yellowish-white color. Undertail is chocolate brown. The undersides of the wings are dark at the edges, white in the center. The under-wing coverts are also white.
Large yellowish beak, dark brown eyes. Paws are pale blue.
Reproduction
Galapagos albatrosses nest in the southeast of the Galapagos island of Espanola, with several pairs also on Plata Island. Nesting takes place every year. Birds nest on volcanic soil, surrounded by rocks and covered with sparse vegetation, more recently also in denser bush. Nesting colonies form at the end of March, and oviposition occurs from mid-April to the end of June. Chicks become independent from late December to early January, reaching sexual maturity in 4-6 years.
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