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Unlike the sea-birds of the
Galapagos, the land birds tend to be less distinctive and more
difficult to identify. Whereas the sea-birds are not split into
sub-species and distinctive varieties, many of the land bird species
have evolved into a wide variety of sub-species and varieties
endemic and particular to groups of islands, individual islands or
even to small areas of one or a few islands. In some cases the
distribution of a kind of bird when seen on a map makes no sense at
all! My guess is that this particular specimen is a mocking bird,
though it's not really like any picture I've seen in a Galapagos
guide - possibly a local variety.
Despite all the other larger and more
obvious animals found on the Galapagos (the "charismatic megafauna"
to coin a phrase) it is the smaller birds and in particular the
finches that have come to be know as "Darwin's Finches" that are
responsible for the status of the Galapagos today as the birth place
of the idea of evolution. Charles Darwin was certainly impressed
with the wildlife when he visited here on the Beagle, but
wasn't fully aware of the significance of what he had found until
long after arrival back home after the voyage. As was the usual
practise in those days, large numbers of specimens of animals found
were killed and preserved to be investigated further when time and
conditions permitted. It was during this very detailed investigation
into the specimens that he had found that Darwin noticed the
similarities and also the very distinct differences between the
finches that he had captured. |
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