Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 27.2–31.1 in
69–79 cm - Wingspan
- 59.8 in
152 cm - Weight
- 30–38.8 oz
850–1100 g
Other Names
- Fou à pieds rouges (French)
- Bubia pies rojos (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- Like all boobies, the Red-footed Booby never carries its prey in its beak. Instead, it always swallows it before flying.
- The Red-footed Booby comes in a confusing array of color morphs, ranging from individuals that are all white except for blackish on the wing, to individuals that are entirely dark brown. Some birds fail to fit neatly into any of the typical color morph categories, and many variations exist. Color morphs do not segregate reproductively or geographically; individuals representing several morphs breed in a single colony.
Habitat
Ocean
Nests mainly on coral atolls or volcanic islands in tropical seas. Spends rest of time at sea.
Food
Fish
Squid and fish, especially flying fish.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 1 eggs
- Egg Description
- Chalky white.
- Condition at Hatching
- Naked and helpless.
Nest Description
Large open platform of twigs, lined with grasses or leafy matter, placed in small tree or shrub.
Nest Placement
Shrub
Behavior
Aerial Dive
Plunge-dives from various heights into schools of fish. May catch flying fish in the air. May grab prey at surface.
Conservation
Least Concern
Human poaching and interference has resulted in large declines in populations over the last 200 years. Still commonly taken as food in some areas, and populations appear to be continuing to decline.
Credits
- Schreiber, E. A., R. W. Schreiber, and G. A. Schenk. 1996. Red-footed Booby (Sula sula). In The Birds of North America, No. 241 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.