Isla Marchena, Galapagos

As I make footfall on the island of Marchena, I hear a sharp, piercing ‘kreee’ sound echoing off the volcanic cliffs. I look up and I see them, the apex predator and the only diurnal (active during the day) raptor on these islands, a group of four Galapagos hawks, soaring over the thermals, scanning the ground for prey.

Galapagos hawks are effective hunters. Unusually for raptors, they scour the islands in flocks, looking for tortoise or iguana hatchlings, small lizards, finches or carrion. When one member of the group spots something edible, they will signal with the call I heard just now. I see the small flock dive, feet first, towards their quarry, which looks to be a large land iguana carcass. The head hawk feasts first, eating his fill while the rest of the pack watches, waiting their turn. When she’s done, the leader hops away, and the other hawks begin, squabbling and nipping at each other as they pick the bones clean. 

When breeding, Galapagos hawks engage in an unusual practice called co-operative polyandry. What this means is that, whilst male hawks are monogamous, the females will take multiple partners. Usually, only a single chick is hatched during the mating season, which the male hawks care for communally. The co-operative nature of this childcare arrangement greatly increases the chances of the chick’s survival in the harsh Galapagos landscape, as there is always a male around to incubate, feed, and protect it. This community of dads will watch over their baby until they are around 2 months old when they’re ready to set out for themselves.

I look down towards a nearby colony of marine iguanas lounging on the black volcanic rock. I see, jumping from one unbothered iguana head to another, a lava lizard, one of the favourite prey animals of the hawks.

These little lizards are perfectly suited to the hot, arid, equatorial climate of the Galapagos. They are, at first glance, a little drab, taking on a dark brown, black colour to help them camouflage on the volcanic slopes. But when they lift their necks, you see they sport a blaze of orange on their throats, very stylish indeed.

The throat patch is best displayed during the lizard’s mating rituals, where the males do a series of vigorous press-ups to attract a mate. These are meant to advertise the virility of the male, pumping up his little muscles to make him look bigger, stronger and more intimidating to his rivals. Usually, this is enough to scare off any potential threat, but if it’s not, the two males will simply have a scrap for the female’s attention.