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Galapagos Mockingbird

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents a bird which intrigued Darwin, the Galapagos mockingbird.

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Miranda Krestovnikoff presents a bird which intrigued Darwin, the Galapagos mockingbird. There are four species of Mockingbird in the Galapagos islands, which probably all descended from a single migrant ancestor and then subsequently evolved different adaptations to life on their separate island clusters, hence their fascination for Charles Darwin. The most widespread is the resourceful Galapagos Mockingbird. Unlike other mockingbirds which feed on nectar and seeds, the Galapagos mockingbird has adapted to its island life to steal and break into seabird eggs and even attack and kill young nestlings. They'll also ride on the backs of land iguanas to feed on ticks deep within the reptiles' skin and will boldly approach tourists for foot. They aptly demonstrate the theory of the "survival of the fittest".

Producer : Andrew Dawes

Available now

2 minutes

Last on

Tue 7 Mar 2023 05:58

Galapagos mockingbird (Mimus parvulus)

Webpage image courtesy of Tui De Roy / naturepl.com.

漏 Tui De Roy / naturepl.com

Broadcasts

  • Wed 15 Oct 2014 05:58
  • Sun 19 Oct 2014 08:58
  • Tue 6 Oct 2015 05:58
  • Sun 23 Jun 2019 08:58
  • Sun 4 Oct 2020 08:58
  • Tue 7 Mar 2023 05:58

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