Galápagos Mockingbird
Encyclopedia
The Galápagos Mockingbird (Mimus parvulus) is a species of bird
in the Mimidae family. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands
, Ecuador
.
due to its feathers which are streaked brown and gray, long tail, and smaller size, and black, angled beak. The bird has a darker color than other mockingbirds on the islands causing it to blend in with the coral sand of the islands that it mainly inhabits. Its natural habitat
s are subtropical or tropical dry forest
s and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland
. Like other mockingbirds it is omnivorous
, but it is more predatory than the related species in South America. It preys on small lava lizards, insects, centipedes, carrion, seabird eggs, and young finches. It will also devour any food left out by people visiting the islands. It has a very clear call that sometimes varies, but unlike other mockingbirds, Galápagos mockingbirds are not mimics. Although they can fly, they are known to be seen running around more than flying which has led to comparisons to road-runner
s.
. Another unique living style is that while living in communities, the oldest male holds responsibility for providing food for and taking care of the young ones. The fact of whether he is the parent does not matter, and he is usually referred to as the alpha male of the group.
The birds build their nests in tree
s and cacti
. About two or three females in each group breed at a time, but it can range from one to several breeding females in groups sized from 2 to 24. The males in the groups that aren’t breeding are “helpers” and help the breeding females, but the females that are not breeding, hardly ever help out. This helping shows the influence of kinship.
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The Galapagos Mockingbird descended from the Ecuadorian Long-tailed Mockingbird. There are three other species of mockingbirds found on the Galapagos Islands, but the Galapagos Mockingbird is the first one that was found in Darwin’s trip to the islands in 1835. They had a greater influence than any other animal on Darwin’s theory of evolution when he arrived there because it was the first species that Darwin noticed distinct differences among when he looked from island to island. This is what caused more species to develop. The Galapagos Mockingbird is the one seen about the archipelago more than any other mockingbird. They are seen among the islands of Santa Cruz, Santiago, Isabela, Fernandina, Santa Fe and Genovesa, but is thought to have originated in San Cristobal. Although they seemed alike on both the islands of San Cristobal and Isabela, they seemed different on Floreana and Santiago.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the Mimidae family. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands
Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, west of continental Ecuador, of which they are a part.The Galápagos Islands and its surrounding waters form an Ecuadorian province, a national park, and a...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
.
Description
The Galapagos Mockingbird is easily spotted on the Galápagos IslandsGalápagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, west of continental Ecuador, of which they are a part.The Galápagos Islands and its surrounding waters form an Ecuadorian province, a national park, and a...
due to its feathers which are streaked brown and gray, long tail, and smaller size, and black, angled beak. The bird has a darker color than other mockingbirds on the islands causing it to blend in with the coral sand of the islands that it mainly inhabits. Its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s are subtropical or tropical dry forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland
Shrubland
Shrubland, scrubland, scrub or brush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity...
. Like other mockingbirds it is omnivorous
Omnivore
Omnivores are species that eat both plants and animals as their primary food source...
, but it is more predatory than the related species in South America. It preys on small lava lizards, insects, centipedes, carrion, seabird eggs, and young finches. It will also devour any food left out by people visiting the islands. It has a very clear call that sometimes varies, but unlike other mockingbirds, Galápagos mockingbirds are not mimics. Although they can fly, they are known to be seen running around more than flying which has led to comparisons to road-runner
Roadrunner
Roadrunners are birds of the genus Geococcyx.Roadrunner or Road Runner may also refer to:* Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner, an animated character based on the bird** The Road Runner Show, compiled cartoons including the character...
s.
Behavior
The Galapagos Mockingbird fights with other birds making it an aggressive bird, but it is known as a bird that does get quite close to people, seeming fearless. They are unique in that when the hatchlings are born, the juveniles help out with raising themHelpers at the nest
Helpers at the nest is a term used in behavioural ecology and evolutionary biology to describe a social structure in which juveniles and sexually mature adolescents of either one or both sexes, remain in association with their parents and help them raise subsequent broods or litters, instead of...
. Another unique living style is that while living in communities, the oldest male holds responsibility for providing food for and taking care of the young ones. The fact of whether he is the parent does not matter, and he is usually referred to as the alpha male of the group.
The birds build their nests in tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s and cacti
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
. About two or three females in each group breed at a time, but it can range from one to several breeding females in groups sized from 2 to 24. The males in the groups that aren’t breeding are “helpers” and help the breeding females, but the females that are not breeding, hardly ever help out. This helping shows the influence of kinship.
History
Adaptation to the climate
Because of the climate that the Galapagos Mockingbirds live in, their social organization is quite different than others. Their mating structure changes depending on which gender outnumbers the other. When there are more males than females, it is monogamous, and when there are more females than males, it is polygynous. Joint nesting occurs quite frequently during the polygynous time. Their breeding seasons go with the times of year. During El Nino, they breed a lot, and during the times of drought, they don’t breed at all. Although a lot of breeding takes place during El Nino, it also causes a lot of deaths in the mockingbirds because of all of the water. This change in weather is the main reason why their population fluctuates so much.External links
- Tenenbaum, David. “Flinch, finch.” Treasures of Evolution Island. 11 Jan 2001.