Waved Albatrosses Courting

A pair of Waved Albatrosses (Phoebastria irrorata) in a courting display on Española Island. The species derives its name from the waved pattern on its chest and below its neck.

We saw at least a dozen pairs in this activity--a wonderful experience, and an unusual one, according to our local guide

Española or Hood Island--on the southeastern extreme of the archipelago--is highly sought-after as a destination in the Galapagos--above all due to the presence of the waved albatross. Some 12,000 pairs breed on Española--by far the largest breeding colony, and indeed they are the only albatross that breed in tropical latitudes.