Today I have a fun watercolor flamingo tutorial if you’re learning about the Galapagos Islands animals in South America. Also, you’ll love ideas on my South America Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas post.
There are many unique and fascinating animals of the Galapagos Islands.
Some are native or endemic, and others that are plentiful there but might also be found in other exotic spots.
The Galapagos is an archipelago which is a sea or stretch of water containing many islands.
They are made up of 127 islands to be exact, of which only 4 are inhabited.
Many of which are endemic (native) to the Galapagos Islands from the well-known Galapagos tortoise to the small temperate weather Galapagos penguin.
About Flamingos of the Galapagos Islands
Flamingos are beautiful and graceful creatures that are easily identified.
And while flamingos are not endemic to the Galapagos, the ones that are found there are among the most brilliantly colored.
They are certainly eye-catching and that is why I chose to make them the focus of today’s activity.
The pink coloring of Galapagos flamingos comes from their diet.
These flamingos’ primary food source is crustaceans, which contain carotenoids, a pigment that helps the flamingos to maintain a bright pink color.
Galapagos flamingos live in large colonies, wading in the brackish, shallow waters of the Galapagos off the coast of Ecuador.
I found a beautiful two-page spread on flamingos in the Wildlife Anatomy from Julia Rothman.
This beautiful book not only served as inspiration for our watercolor painting but also covers the anatomy of a flamingo and a few fun facts.
Fantastic Facts About 8 Endemic Animals of The Galapagos Islands
- Galapagos Penguin- The only one of its kind that makes its home north of the equator, they are the second smallest penguins and are the rarest penguin species in the world.
- Galapagos Land Iguanas have a symbiotic relationship with the islands’ birds, who find a food source in the parasites that live on the iguanas’ skin.
- Blue-Footed Booby, The name “booby” actually comes from a mispronunciation of the Spanish bobo, which means “clown” or “fool.”
- Galapagos Tortoises inhabit most of the islands in the Galápagos.
- Marine Iguana can live on both lands and in the water, diving to depths of up to 30 feet.
- Flightless Cormorant is endemic to the Galápagos, yet flightless. They inhabit 2 different islands that are miles from any other shore.
- Frigatebird birds have tiny bodies with enormous wingspans, and because they cannot take off from water, they will simply soar around for days, weeks, and sometimes even as long as two months without touching down.
- Darwin’s Finches were discovered by Charles Darwin and belong to the Tanager family. Thirteen of the fourteen types are endemic to the Galapagos.
Also, look at these books and resources about the Galapagos Islands.
11 Books & Resources About the Animals of the Galapagos
Add one or two of these fun resources about the animals of the Galapagos Islands in South America.
The Galapagos Islands are a chain of volcanic islands located on either side of the equator in the Pacific Ocean. The isolated location of the islands has allowed a vast number of species to develop that are original to each island, such as the marine iguana, the blue-footed booby, the magnificent frigatebird and of course the giant Galapagos tortoise, which may live to be over one hundred years old.
This Galapagos Island Toob is a must have item for sensory bins and dioramas, but they really give your child a better understanding of what creatures they may never get to see in person. They make great models for art projects as well from sketching to painting.
This is the ultimate book about the Galápagos for kids, covering the formation of the islands, the fascinating animals that live there, the evolutionary traits of the flora, the diverse climates, the brilliant conservation efforts and much more!This beautifully illustrated and photographic book provides a fascinating tour of the flora, fauna, and geology of the Galapágos islands. Children can learn about the unique and incredible wildlife, volcanoes, climate and Darwin’s theory of evolution from his visit to the Galápagos.
Carolus (Karl) Linnaeus started off as a curious child who loved exploring the garden. Despite his intelligence—and his mother's scoldings—he was a poor student, preferring to be outdoors with his beloved plants and bugs. As he grew up, Karl's love of nature led him to take on a seemingly impossible task: to give a scientific name to every living thing on earth.
11 EXOTIC BIRDS: This Toob brings you some of the most amazing exotic winged friends from around the world. It includes a Parakeet, Quetzal, Yellow Macaw, Humming Bird, Hibiscus Flower, Keel-Billed Toucan, Cockatoo, Flamingo, White Ibis, Snowy Owl, and a Greet Parrot.
A true story that incorporates biography, adventure and the elements of armchair travel. Angermeyer, who grew up in Nebraska, embarks on a search to discover what happened to her father, a refugee from Hitler, on the Galapagos Islands where he and her mother had lived before his death.
For ages 3-9... The strange little bird with turquoise blue feet spent all his time imagining being someone else. Follow him on a journey that leads to self-acceptance and a life-changing discovery: It's our differences that make us special and set us apart. What's really important comes from our heart.
This new, thoroughly updated and lavishly illustrated fourth edition of Bradt's Galápagos Wildlife is packed with information and magnificent pictures to aid in identifying key species, all in an easy-to-carry format that covers everything from the wildlife that you're likely to encounter, whether flying in the air, running along the ground or swimming underwater, to a succinct history of the islands, their habitats and volcanic origins.
Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Galapagos Islands with this endemic animal coloring book. With 26 pages filled with detailed and realistic drawings, this coloring book will take you on a journey through the unique landscapes of the islands as you immerse yourself in the wild nature of the región.
Harriet the tortoise likes to do things slowly. She explores her home on the Galápagos Islands―slowly. She eats―slowly. And when the sun goes down, she slumbers deeply all night long.
When Harriet’s friends tell her to pick up the pace, Harriet decides to journey to a neighboring island to see what there is to see. She parades with penguins and rides with dolphins, encountering adventure at every turn. But is life in the fast lane right for a tortoise who loves to take her time?
Marine Iguanas. Discover the unique Galapagos Island critter called the Marine Iguana. Designed for Young Readers (Ages 5-7) in mind, your little adventurist can immerse themselves within the colorful pages that take them on a journey to better understand the Life of the Marine Iguana. Fun facts and vibrant photos make this book an enjoyable read now and for years to come.
Before you begin, have your child identify the Galapagos Islands on a map, globe, or atlas.
Also, have them locate Ecuador and the equator as well.
More South America Activities
- 9 Free South America Country Reports for Kids Notebooking Pages
- Free South America Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas
- South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants
- South America Unit Study resources
- Free 8 Page Fan Book–Animals of the Galapagos Islands
Finally, look how to make this diy watercolor flamingo tutorial.
I do not claim to be an artist or an art teacher.
Also, I have a fun printable flamingo unit study that you can read about here.
Galapagos Islands Animals – Watercolor Flamingo Tutorial
But as long as I have been homeschooling, I’ve picked up some tips and tricks that helped me teach things like watercolor in a simple way that helps kids “get it”
If you feel confident, freehand your flamingo with watercolor.
But this simple tutorial is meant for kids (or adults) who like art but aren’t yet confident to jump in fully,
Supplies:
- Watercolor paper
- Flamingo picture
- 2-3 small watercolor paintbrushes
- Pencil with eraser
- Cup of water
Start by lightly tracing the curving neck and body of a flamingo.
It’s okay if it’s not perfect. You can erase and re-sketch as many times as you need to.
Now add some jointed legs, you can draw feet or let them disappear into the water line.
Next, erase your drawing leaving just the lightest pencil marks to give a basic guide.
Use a clean brush and “paint” the neck and body using only water, get it nice and wet.
Now, pick up a light shade of pink watercolor and begin to fill in the flamingo.
Do some wet-on-wet watercolor by adding a little bit of detail and shading with a darker pink while it is still wet.
You will be able to see how nicely it moves when you add wet paint to wet paint. This is a great time to start shaping the tale a bit.
Allow the watercolor to dry, it shouldn’t take long.
Once dry or most of the way dry add details like the leg color, as well as adding more details to the wing and tail.
Let the final layer of watercolor dry and add a black eye and a large, curved beak.
