Genovesa Island — The Galápagos' Premier Seabird Colony

The Galápagos Conservancy estimates that more than 200,000 red-footed boobies (Sula sula) live among the trees and shrubs of Genovesa. This makes it home to the largest colony of the species in the archipelago, attracting birdwatchers and wildlife photographers alike. Red-footed boobies are less common on other Galápagos islands, but on Genovesa they can be easily seen nesting in the lush foliage.

Nazca and Blue-footed boobies nest on the ground, while Red-footed boobies are the only booby species in the Galápagos that nest in trees, offering travelers a distinct wildlife experience in Genovesa. They prefer Palo Santo trees for perching and nesting, and because these trees are along the trail, visitors can often watch the birds at eye level. Globally, there are not many of them, but white-morph birds make up around 5% of Genovesa’s population, making them relatively easier to spot on this island.

Nesting behavior can be observed up close along the trail at Darwin Bay Beach. Here, red-footed boobies nest in the trees beside the path. Visitors can see birds incubating their eggs, feeding their chicks, and interacting with their mates.

Genovesa holds one of the largest great frigatebird (Fregata minor) colonies in the Galápagos. Magnificent frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) are also present, though great frigatebirds are more commonly seen.

The male frigatebird’s courtship display is among the most photographed behaviors in the Galápagos. Males inflate their red gular pouch (throat sac) and perch in the trees with their head tilted back. To attract the females flying overhead, they then display the pouch and make a vibrating sound by rattling their bills against it. This courtship display can be seen year-round on Genovesa, although the Galápagos Conservation Trust reports that courtship activity in great frigatebirds peaks around March and June.

Frigatebirds are also kleptoparasites. This means that they steal their food from other birds rather than catching it themselves. On Genovesa, visitors can see frigatebirds chasing boobies, tropicbirds, and storm petrels, forcing them to drop or regurgitate their catch midair, and catching it before it reaches the water. This behavior, alongside courtship displays and nesting activity, offers visitors an opportunity to see several sides of frigatebird behavior in one place.

The short-eared owl (Asio flammeus galapagoensis) on Genovesa has adapted an unusual behavior. Where most owls are nocturnal, this owl hunts during the day. It has developed to match its hunting hours to its main prey. The short-eared owls take advantage of the large colonies of Galápagos storm petrels nesting in the cracks and crevices in the lava at Prince Philip’s Steps, hunting when the petrels are out and on the move.

Visitors can simply observe the short-eared owl’s hunting behavior at Prince Philip’s steps. These birds can be seen flying low over the lava fields as they search for storm petrels near their nesting crevices. They make short gliding passes, pause on the rocks, and then drop suddenly toward their target. Because the hunting takes place in the open during daylight, it provides a great opportunity for photographers to capture a Galápagos apex predator actively hunting its prey.

A large population of Galápagos storm petrels (Hydrobates tethys) nests in the lava fields of Genovesa, where these birds use cracks and spaces beneath lava boulders as shelter. At Prince Philip’s Steps, the bare lava hides numerous nesting sites under it. Their numbers become easier to appreciate when hundreds of dark, swift birds emerge and fly across the plateau.

Unlike many storm petrels, which only return to their nests after dark to avoid predators, the wedge-rumped storm petrels are particularly active during the day. On Genovesa, the petrels’ daytime activity creates the perfect opportunity for short-eared owls to hunt them while they are flying between their nests and feeding grounds. This makes these two species ecologically linked.

The plateau at Prince Philip’s Steps is home to an abundance of Nazca boobies. Their ground nests are spread out on the open lava and are visible near the trail. Red-billed tropicbirds nest in cliff crevices throughout the caldera walls, easy to spot by their long white tail streamers trailing behind them as they fly. Galápagos sea lions haul out on Darwin Bay Beach and are commonly seen in the water during snorkeling sessions.

Marine iguanas are the only reptiles on Genovesa, found along its shoreline. The Galápagos Conservancy describes them as the smallest marine iguana subspecies in the archipelago, smaller than the ones on Isabela and Fernandina. This is likely caused by less food being available around Genovesa compared to the nutrient-rich waters of the western islands.

Darwin’s finches that are present on the Galápagos include the large ground finch, the large cactus finch, and the endemic Genovesa ground finch. Swallow-tailed gulls, the only fully nocturnal gull species in the world, also nest on the island.

Hammerhead sharks (often juveniles) visit the waters around Genovesa and can occasionally be spotted, alongside white-tip reef sharks. Travelers are most likely to encounter them while snorkeling in the calm, protected waters of Darwin Bay, rather than at Prince Philip’s Steps.