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Red-footed Booby Identification

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The Four Keys to ID

  • Size & Shape

    A solid, slim seabird with very long, slender wings, long, pointed tail, long, pointed bill, and large webbed feet.

    Relative Size

    Larger than a White-tailed Tropicbird, smaller than a Masked Booby.

    Relative Sizegoose or largergoose-sized or larger

    Measurements
    • Both Sexes
      • Length: 27.2-31.1 in (69-79 cm)
      • Weight: 30.0-38.8 oz (850-1100 g)
      • Wingspan: 59.8 in (152 cm)

Regional Differences

Ornithologists recognize three subspecies: sula of the Caribbean and Atlantic, websteri in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean, and rubripes in the remainder of the species’ wide range. All subspecies show multiple color morphs. However, websteri in the Galapagos is the only one with a black-tailed white morph.