Blue-footed Booby

Sula nebouxii Order: PELECANIFORMESFamily: Booby and Gannets (Sulidae)
Blue-footed Booby Breeding Male Portrait
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Range Map for Blue-footed Booby

Overview

Blue-footed Booby: Large, gull-like seabird with white body, brown wings and brown-streaked head and back. The blue-gray bill is long and stout. Legs and feet are powder blue. Plunge dives for fish from 50 feet above shallow water. Alternates rapid, deep wing beats with sailing glides.

Range and Habitat

Blue-footed Booby: Breeds from Gulf of California south to Peru. In summer, a few stray to Salton Sea in southeastern California or, infrequently, to southern California coast. Pelagic, only comes ashore to breed.

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Listen:

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Voice Text

Generally silent

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Related Birds:

Brown Pelican
American White Pelican
Red-footed Booby
Masked Booby
Brown Booby
Northern Gannet
.

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Family Booby and Gannets (Sulidae)_blue
Species Sula nebouxii
Length32 Inches
Wingspan61 Inches

Blue-footed Booby

Blue-footed Booby: Large, gull-like seabird with white body, brown wings and brown-streaked head and back. The blue-gray bill is long and stout. Legs and feet are powder blue. Plunge dives for fish from 50 feet above shallow water. Alternates rapid, deep wing beats with sailing glides.

● Song: Generally silent

● Foraging & Feeding: Blue-footed Booby: Feeds on fish. Plunge dives from up to 50 feet above water; capable of catching flying fish in the air. The male and female are adapted for catching fish of different sizes. The larger female dives further offshore in deeper waters, while the male makes shallow dives closer to land.

● Breeding & nesting: Blue-footed Booby: Two to three chalky, pale blue-green eggs are laid on flat ground. Both parents incubate eggs for 41 days.

● Similar species: Blue-footed Booby: Masked Booby has yellow feet, white upperparts and head, and yellow bill.

Flight Pattern

Strong, moderately rapid wing beats interrupted by sailing glide.
Blue-footed Booby Breeding Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Blue-footed Booby: Breeds from Gulf of California south to Peru. In summer, a few stray to Salton Sea in southeastern California or, infrequently, to southern California coast. Pelagic, only comes ashore to breed.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationCasual to rare
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight44.8 Ounces