This picture is of Elephant Rock near Wolf and Darwin (Galapagos islands), where lives the unique vampire finch (Geospiza difficilis septentrionalis).

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Wolf Island is a remote and rarely visited uninhabited volcanic outcrop about 100 miles north-west of the main islands in the Galapagos archipelago. Elephant Rock is nearby and this picture was taken at dawn, approaching from the east. The most remarkable of the many birds which live on this island and rock - and also on Darwin Island which is not far away - is the vampire finch (Geospiza difficilis septentrionalis) which feeds occasionally on the blood of other birds; mainly the blue-footed booby and the nazca booby. This finch is found nowhere else and must be amongst the rarest birds in the world. I do not recall that Charles Darwin encountered it when he was writing about Galapagos finches.

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Size: 4724px × 3094px
Location: See description
Photo credit: © Terence Dormer / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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