Isla de los Pájaros Guide: Cormorant Colonies and What to See from the Boat

Isla de los Pájaros—Birds Island—is a rocky Beagle Channel islet observed from tour boats departing Ushuaia. Its dominant visual feature is a dense cormorant colony, especially Imperial Cormorants, with Rock Cormorants and other seabirds possible around the island. Boats do not normally land; passengers watch nesting, resting and flight activity from the deck.

The island is included in many classic sea-lion-and-lighthouse routes, so it is usually a scheduled wildlife stop rather than a separate excursion. What you see changes with season, breeding stage, light and the side of the vessel.

Where is Isla de los Pájaros?

The islet lies in the Beagle Channel near Ushuaia and forms part of the wildlife circuit visited before or after sea-lion colonies and Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse. International tour descriptions may call it Bird Island, Birds Island or Isla de los Pájaros.

The name is descriptive rather than taxonomic: this is not an island with every regional bird species. Its value comes from seeing colonial seabirds concentrated on a small rocky habitat and watching how they commute between nests and feeding areas.

 

 

Which cormorants live on the island?

Imperial Cormorants

Imperial Cormorants are the black-and-white birds that dominate many passenger photographs. Adults show a dark back and head, white underparts and, at close range, colorful bare skin around the face and a small crest during breeding condition. Their upright posture and white front make them look surprisingly penguin-like from a distance.

They build nests close together on open ground. From a boat, passengers can notice repeated takeoffs, landings and birds returning from the water. Egg or chick visibility depends on angle and breeding stage and should never be promised for a particular departure.

Rock or Magellanic Cormorants

Rock Cormorants, also called Magellanic Cormorants in English, may be seen on rocky ledges. They are darker overall, with a contrasting white belly and a red facial patch that may require binoculars or a photograph to confirm. Nest placement on steep ledges can help distinguish them from Imperial Cormorants nesting across more open surfaces.

One quick view is not always enough. Plumage, posture, distance and glare can cause confusion, and local tour translations sometimes use “king” or “royal” cormorant inconsistently. Photograph the head, chest and nest setting before deciding.

 

 

Why do cormorants gather here?

A low offshore island gives colonial birds open nesting surfaces, proximity to marine feeding habitat and some separation from land predators and human traffic. The surrounding channel supports fish and other prey, while rock, kelp and moving water create varied foraging zones.

Birds leave the colony to feed and return to rest, incubate or provision young. The island therefore acts as a base, not the entire habitat. Activity above the colony is connected to feeding areas that may lie well beyond passengers’ view.

My guiding perspective: the island becomes more interesting when you watch the traffic pattern—departures, arrivals, nest exchanges and bathing—rather than trying to count species in one minute.

What else can you see from the boat?

• Kelp Gulls: common regional gulls may rest, patrol the colony edge or fly past the boat.
• South American Terns: slim seabirds may pass over the water or feed nearby.
• Skuas: opportunistic predators can occur around seabird colonies.
• Petrels and albatrosses: possible in the wider channel, although not guaranteed at the island itself.
• Sea lions: may swim through the surrounding water, but another islet is normally the route’s dedicated haul-out stop.
• Giant kelp: brown canopies along the rocks reveal shallow coastal habitat.

 

Use the existing Beagle Channel wildlife overview for the broader species list. Isla de los Pájaros is best understood as a cormorant colony, not a guarantee for rare pelagic birds.

 

Do tours land on Isla de los Pájaros?

No landing is normally part of the visit. Boats approach at a distance selected by the captain, slow for observation and may turn so passengers on different sides receive a view. Keeping people off the nesting island protects the colony and avoids damage to nests and guano-covered terrain.

A separate Bridges Islands stop may include a guided landing. Read the itinerary carefully: “Birds Island” and “island hike” are not the same stop.

 

 

Best viewing position on the boat

Listen for the guide’s approach announcement before moving outside. On a catamaran, the upper or side deck can offer a wide colony view; a lower deck can create a more level photographic angle. On a small boat, the guide may ask passengers to remain seated during maneuvers.

Do not rush to the first visible side. Captains often reposition or rotate the vessel when safe. Keep passageways clear, especially when everyone returns inside.

 

 

Binocular and camera tips

• Use 8× or 10× binoculars to inspect facial color and nest material without losing too much field of view.
• Start with a wide photograph showing the full colony, then move to individual behavior.
• Select 1/1000 second or faster for birds in flight.
• Use continuous autofocus with an expanded focus area against a busy background.
• Keep highlights in white plumage from clipping by checking the histogram.
• Photograph several frames before identifying chicks or species later.

White guano, black rock and contrasting plumage create difficult exposure. Overcast light can be helpful because it softens the contrast.

How behavior changes through the season

Courtship, nest building, incubation, chick rearing and post-breeding activity overlap rather than following a tourist calendar exactly. The colony may be loud and busy in one phase and visually quieter in another. Weather and feeding conditions also affect how many adults are at sea.

Do not interpret a resting bird as “inactive” or a crowded nest as an invitation to approach. Energy conservation and nest attendance are important behaviors.

 

 

Responsible colony viewing

Keep voices moderate, turn off flash and never throw food. Drones can flush large numbers of birds and should not be launched from a tour boat. If birds repeatedly lift from nests or the colony shows synchronized alarm, the captain may increase distance or end the stop.

 

The verified Sea Lions Island navigation includes Birds Island, a sea-lion stop and the lighthouse. Choose it for the complete route rather than expecting one exact breeding scene.

After more than 25 years in tourism: I warn travelers that the black-and-white colony is often mistaken for penguins from afar. Knowing that you are looking at highly adapted flying seabirds makes the stop much richer.

Tell us whether bird photography or general sightseeing is your priority. We can help compare deck space, vessel size and route duration without promising a specific nest or species.