This list of birds recorded in the Galápagos Islands includes species recorded in the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador, where 190 species have been documented as of March 2025.Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, D. F. Lane, L, N. Naka, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 29 November 2025. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. South American Classification Committee associated with the International Ornithologists' Union. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved November 30, 2025 Of them, 30 are endemic (one of which is extinct), four nest only in the Galápagos, and virtually the entire population of a fifth nests there. Seventeen endemic subspecies are noted. In addition, 65 of the species are accidental and 11 were introduced to the islands, four of which are domesticated.
Unless otherwise noted, this list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) are those of the South American Classification Committee (SACC) of the American Ornithological Society.Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, D. F. Lane, L, N. Naka, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 29 November 2025. A classification of the bird species of South America. South American Classification Committee associated with the International Ornithologists' Union. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved November 30, 2025
The following tags are used to define several categories of occurrence. Untagged species are common non-endemic residents, migrants, or seasonal visitors.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in the Galápagos (E) Endemic - a species found only the Galápagos (EB) Endemic breeder - a species which nests only in the Galápagos but is found elsewhere in the non-breeding season (ES) Endemic subspecies - a subspecies found only in the Galápagos (I) Introduced - a species introduced to the Galápagos as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (D) Domesticated - a species which is domesticated in the Galápagos but not naturalised
Ducks
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
These are adapted to an aquatic life, possessing webbed feet, an oily covering on their feathers to shed water, and bills adapted to their feeding needs.
Black-bellied whistling duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis (A) Graylag goose, Anser anser domesticus (D) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis galapagensis (ES) Domestic mallard, Anas platyrhynchos domesticus (D) This species is not on the SACC list. Its placement follows Clements. Masked duck, Nomonyx dominicus (A)
Guineafowl Order: GalliformesFamily: Numididae
Guineafowl are African gamebirds, mostly spotted, with bare skin on the head and neck to lose heat.
Helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris (I)
Pheasants
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.
Green peafowl, Pavo muticus (I) Common quail, Coturnix coturnix (I) Domestic chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus (D) Domestic turkey, Meleagris gallopavo (D)
Flamingos Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are water birds with a downcurved beak for sieving food.
Chilean flamingo, Phoenicopterus chilensis (A) American flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are aquatic birds most closely related to flamingoes. They are well adapted to living in water but are clumsy on land, never straying far from water when they build their nests.
Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
Pigeons Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are medium to large mostly plump birds. Most are arboreal species descending to the ground to feed but some are terrestrial like the quail-doves of South America or the pheasant-pigeon of New Guinea. They are found worldwide except near the poles and in a wide variety of habitats including urban. The feral form of the rock pigeon has been introduced worldwide.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (Ex) Galapagos dove, Zenaida galapagoensis (E) Eared dove, Zenaida auriculata (A)
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
Cuckoos are found almost worldwide. They are highly variable in size, shape, colour, and habits.
Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani (I) Dark-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus melacoryphus Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (A) Gray-capped cuckoo, Coccyzus lansbergi
Nightjars
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nighthawks belong to the same family as nightjars but are found only in the Americas. They have mottled or striped plumage for camouflage.
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are aerodynamic species which are found worldwide. Some species are migratory, others resident, and others still have both migratory and resident populations.
Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (A)
Rails
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rails are usually secretive birds. Many island species are flightless and many of those have gone extinct in the last five centuries. Gallinules are less secretive, and are usually found near or on water.
Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinica Galapagos rail, Laterallus spilonota (E) Paint-billed crake, Mustelirallus erythrops Sora, Porzana carolina (A) Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata American coot, Fulica americana (A)
Plovers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
Plovers are dull-coloured shorebirds without many distinguishing features. The bill is short and straight to catch worms on the surface. Lapwings are slightly bigger and more colourful shorebirds. Their legs are longer than plover's but the bill is the same size with respect to the body.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva Tawny-throated dotterel, Oreopholus ruficollis (A) Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (A) Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Wilson's plover, Anarynchus wilsonia (A)
Oystercatchers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
Oystercatchers are black or black and white shorebirds with long orange bills and with or without an eyering. The legs are pinkish.
American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus galapagensis (ES)
Avocets and stilts
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Stilts are spindly legged birds with black and white markings.
Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus
Sandpipers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Sandpipers are long-legged mostly long-billed shorebirds. Some like woodcocks and snipes are forest species but most others are estuarine or wetland species.
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Hudsonian godwit Limosa haemastica (A) Marbled godwit Limosa fedoa (A) Ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres Black turnstone Arenaria melanocephala Red knot Calidris canutus (A) Surfbird Calidris virgata (A) Stilt sandpiper Calidris himantopus (A) Sanderling Calidris alba Baird's sandpiper Calidris bairdii (A) Least sandpiper Calidris minutilla White-rumped sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis (A) Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis Pectoral sandpiper Calidris melanotos (A) Semipalmated sandpiper Calidris pusilla (A) Western sandpiper Calidris mauri (A) Short-billed dowitcher Limnodromus griseus Wilson's phalarope Phalaropus tricolor Red-necked phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Red phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius Spotted sandpiper Actitis macularius Solitary sandpiper Tringa solitaria (A) Wandering tattler Tringa incana Greater yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca Willet Tringa semipalmata Lesser yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
Skuas
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
Stercorariidae are predatory birds typically separated into the bigger Catharacta skuas and the smaller Stercorarius jaegers.
Great skua, Stercorarius skua Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (A) Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus
Gulls
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae
Gulls are seabirds although some are found on freshwater. They have hooked bills and some have hoods or caps on their heads. Terns were formerly placed in a family of their own, Sternidae, but now they are commonly placed along with gulls and skimmers in Laridae. Their bills are straighter than those of gulls.
Swallow-tailed gull, Creagrus furcatus (essentially EB; a few pairs breed in Colombia) Gray-hooded gull, Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus (A) Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan Lava gull, Leucophaeus fuliginosus (E) Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (A) Kelp gull, Larus dominicanus (A) Brown noddy, Anous stolidus galapagensis (ES) White tern, Gygis alba (A) Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus Inca tern, Larosterna inca (A) Black tern, Chlidonias niger Common tern, Sterna hirundo Elegant tern, Thalasseus elegans (A) Royal tern, Thalasseus maximus
Tropicbirds
Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are seabirds once thought to be closely related to pelicans but are now known to belong to a clade known as Metaves.
Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus Red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda (A)
Penguins
Order: SphenisciformesFamily: Spheniscidae
Penguins are southern ocean birds with only this one species occurring north of the equator. They are small to large in size and mostly black and white in color.
Galapagos penguin, Spheniscus mendiculus (EB)
Albatrosses Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Diomedeidae
Albatrosses are large tubenoses with wingspans of more than a meter. Most are southern ocean species but some are found in the northern Pacific Ocean.
Waved albatross, Phoebastria irrorata (EB) Southern royal albatross, Diomedea epomophora Wandering albatross, Diomedea exulans Black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris Black-footed albatross, Phoebastria nigripes (A)
Southern storm-petrels Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Oceanitidae
Storm-petrels are small marine birds that are mostly black and white. Until 2018, this family's species were included with the other storm-petrels in family Hydrobatidae.
White-bellied storm-petrel, Fregetta grallaria (A) Elliot's storm-petrel, Oceanites gracilis galapagoensis (ES) White-faced storm-petrel, Pelagodroma marina (A)
Northern storm-petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae
Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family.
Wedge-rumped storm-petrel, Hydrobates tethys tethys (ES) Band-rumped storm-petrel, Hydrobates castro Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhoa (A) Markham's storm-petrel, Hydrobates markhami (A) Ringed storm-petrel, Hydrobates hornbyi Black storm-petrel, Hydrobates melania (A)
Shearwaters Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae
Petrels and shearwaters are known collectively as tubenoses for the tubes on their beaks which they use for excreting salt.
Southern giant-petrel, Macronectes giganteus Northern giant-petrel, Macronectes halli Southern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialoides Cape petrel, Daption capense (A) Gould's petrel, Pterodroma leucoptera Mottled petrel, Pterodroma inexpectata (A) Galapagos petrel, Pterodroma phaeopygia (EB) Chatham petrel, Pterodroma axillaris Antarctic prion, Pachyptila desolata (A) Parkinson's petrel, Procellaria parkinsoni (A) Wedge-tailed shearwater, Ardenna pacificus (A) Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus (A)