Blue-footed Booby Bird Facts (Sula nebouxii)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Blue-footed Booby is a striking seabird with a distinctive appearance. Adults have a brown head, neck, and upper parts, contrasting sharply with their white underparts. Their most notable feature is their bright blue feet, which can vary in shade from turquoise to sky blue.

Males and females are similar in appearance, but females are slightly larger with bigger pupils. Juveniles have a more muted plumage, with brownish-grey feet that gradually turn blue as they mature. The birds' beaks are long, pointed, and bluish-grey in colour.

Size

Length

76cm to 84cm

Wingspan

152cm to 160cm

Weight

1.2kg to 1.8kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown White

Beak Colour

Blue Grey

Leg Colour

Blue

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Blue-footed Booby is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Blue-footed Booby is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Blue-footed Booby is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Blue-footed Booby can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Blue-footed Booby is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Blue-footed Booby is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Blue-footed Booby is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Blue-footed Booby is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Blue-footed Booby is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Blue-footed Booby is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Blue-footed Booby is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Blue-footed Booby is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Blue-footed Boobies inhabit the eastern Pacific Ocean, ranging from the Gulf of California to Peru. They are most famously associated with the Galápagos Islands but also breed on coastal islands off Ecuador and Peru. These seabirds prefer rocky coastlines and small islands for nesting and roosting.

While they are not migratory, Blue-footed Boobies may disperse widely at sea outside the breeding season. They are rarely seen far inland, maintaining a strong connection to their coastal and marine habitats throughout the year.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 100 meters

Climate zones

Tropical, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Blue-footed Booby. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Colombia Costa Rica Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama Peru

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Chile United States of America

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Blue-footed Booby demonstrates remarkable agility in its spectacular plunge-diving behaviour, folding its wings and diving at speeds up to 60 mph with pinpoint accuracy. Their ability to manoeuvre both in the air and underwater showcases their exceptional agility.

Strength 70

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

While not exceptionally strong for their size, Blue-footed Boobies possess sufficient strength to dive from great heights and swim underwater to catch fish. Their ability to carry and protect eggs with their webbed feet also indicates a decent level of strength.

Adaptability 75

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Blue-footed Boobies show good adaptability in their feeding habits, being opportunistic hunters capable of catching various fish species. Their ability to breed year-round, depending on local conditions, further demonstrates their adaptability. However, they are somewhat specialised in their coastal habitat preferences.

Aggressiveness 40

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Generally not considered aggressive birds, Blue-footed Boobies can display territorial behaviour during breeding. They may defend their nesting sites, but they're not known for exceptional aggression compared to other seabirds.

Endurance 80

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Blue-footed Booby's endurance is evident in its ability to soar for extended periods, dive repeatedly for fish, and undertake long foraging trips at sea. Their capacity to dive to depths of up to 80 feet and their potential lifespan of 15-20 years in the wild also indicate strong endurance.

Diet

Blue-footed Boobies primarily feed on small fish such as anchovies, sardines, and mackerel. They are opportunistic hunters, using their excellent eyesight to spot prey from the air before executing their precise plunge dives.

Occasionally, they also consume squid and other small marine creatures.

Behaviour

Blue-footed Boobies are renowned for their spectacular plunge-diving behaviour. They soar high above the water, then fold their wings back and dive straight down at speeds up to 60 mph to catch fish.

On land, they are known for their comical mating dance, where males lift their blue feet high and strut to impress females.

Vocalisation

Blue-footed Boobies are generally quiet at sea but become more vocal during breeding. Their calls include a variety of whistles, grunts, and honking sounds.

Males produce a distinctive whistle during courtship, often described as a high-pitched 'whee-whee' or 'wh-aaaah'. Females respond with a deeper, hoarser call.

Nesting & Breeding

Blue-footed Boobies typically breed year-round, with peak activity varying by location. Courtship involves elaborate ritualised displays, including the male's famous foot-lifting dance and sky-pointing with their beaks.

Nests are simple scrapes on the ground, often on flat or gently sloping areas near cliff edges. Females usually lay 2-3 chalky blue eggs. Both parents share incubation duties, carefully shielding the eggs with their webbed feet.

Incubation lasts about 41-45 days. Chicks are born naked but quickly develop white down. They fledge after about 102 days but may continue to be fed by their parents for several months after leaving the nest.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, Blue-footed Boobies face threats from overfishing, which reduces their food supply, and climate change, which affects ocean temperatures and fish distribution.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting their breeding colonies and maintaining healthy marine ecosystems.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

90,000 mature individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

Look for Blue-footed Boobies along rocky coastlines and islands in the eastern Pacific.
Observe their distinctive plunge-diving behaviour from coastal viewpoints.
Visit during the breeding season to witness their famous courtship dance.
Bring binoculars to appreciate the details of their blue feet and facial features.
Respect their nesting areas and maintain a safe distance to avoid disturbing the birds.

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Blue-foot, Blue-footed Gannet

Family:

Sulidae

Average Lifespan

17 years

Max Lifespan

18 years ^[4]

Predators

Adult Blue-footed Boobies have few natural predators, but their eggs and chicks are vulnerable to gulls, frigate birds, and introduced mammals like rats and feral cats on breeding islands.

Did You Know?

The blue colour of their feet comes from carotenoid pigments obtained from their fish diet.
Blue-footed Boobies can dive from heights of 80 feet and reach depths of 80 feet underwater.
They are named 'boobies' from the Spanish word 'bobo', meaning 'stupid', due to their clumsy movement on land.