Flightless Cormorant

Flightless Cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi) and Lava Cactus (Brachycereus nesioticus)
Fernandina Island. Western Isles of Galapagos Islands
ECUADOR. South America
These are the largest of the world's 29 cormorant species and the only one that has lost the power of flight. They live very locally to the shores of Isabela and Fernandina Islands and although they can not fly still retain vestigial wings which help them to balance when jumping from rock to rock. As they do not produce much oil to waterproof their wings they must dry out their wings when they return to shore. Nests are constructed of seaweed, flotsam and jetsam and are never more than a few meters from shore. Usually up to 3 eggs are layed.
ENDEMIC TO GALAPAGOS

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Filename: 3G1612_Flightless_Cormorant.tif
Copyright: © Pete Oxford
Image Size: 5540x3680 / 58.4MB; Brachycereus nesioticus Ecuador Endemic Fernandina Island Flightless Flightless cormorant Galapagos Isabela Island Islands Lava Cactus Phalacrocorax harrisi Seabird Seaweed nests South America Vestigial wings Western Isles
Contained in galleries: Galapagos General

Flightless Cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi) and Lava Cactus (Brachycereus nesioticus)<br />
Fernandina Island. Western Isles of Galapagos Islands<br />
ECUADOR. South America<br />
These are the largest of the world's 29 cormorant species and the only one that has lost the power of flight. They live very locally to the shores of Isabela and Fernandina Islands and although they can not fly still retain vestigial wings which help them to balance when jumping from rock to rock. As they do not produce much oil to waterproof their wings they must dry out their wings when they return to shore. Nests are constructed of seaweed, flotsam and jetsam and are never more than a few meters from shore. Usually up to 3 eggs are layed.<br />
ENDEMIC TO GALAPAGOS