H4_W2_006

Date: 2017

Location: Galapagos Islands

Did you know?

A lovely bird with black plumage head is part of the Gull family. These birds are nearly endemic to Galapagos with few birds seen in colombia. Both Male and female are similar looking with little. The black head is typically black during breeding season and in non-breeding season the head is white with black rim around the eye. As the bird has a Tail like swallow, it gets its name swallowtail. These Gulls nest on the rocks, bare lava and cliff areas in the shoreline. Females lay 1 egg that hatches 35 days later. Chicks spend about 3 months with their parents before they are independent. A asynchronous breeder with no specific time for breeding, females lays an egg, which hatches in 30-35 days with 90 days of feeding before the young ones fly away.

About the picture

Swallow Tailed Gulls are the only sea bird in the world which are fully nocturnal. They prey on animals which surfaces at night to feed on - like squid and sIn order to see while hunting for food at night, the swallow-tailed gull's eyes are larger in size and volume than those of any other gullmall fishes.

Fun Fact

Swallow Tailed Gull changes colors of head and eyering when breeding