Skip to main content

Red-footed Booby

Silhouette SeabirdsSeabirds
Red-footed BoobySula sula
  • ORDER: Suliformes
  • FAMILY: Sulidae

Basic Description

The Red-footed Booby is a graceful, slim-winged seabird named for its vivid coral-red feet which males show off during courtship. Most booby species nest on the ground, but the Red-footed nests in trees, so they don’t compete for nest sites. This habit also provides protection from ground predators, a welcome advantage for this smallest of the six booby species. Like other members of the family Sulidae, Red-footed Boobies pursue fish by diving into the sea, but also chase flying fish like a flycatcher chases flies.

More ID Info
image of range map for Red-footed Booby
Year-roundBreedingMigrationNonbreeding
Range map provided by Birds of the World
Explore Maps

Find This Bird

Red-footed Boobies are tropical seabirds, and Hawaii is one of the best places to see them. If you’re on the island of Kauai, try Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, where they are present year-round, cavorting with nesting Brown Boobies and Red-tailed Tropicbirds.

Other Names

  • Piquero Patirrojo (Spanish)
  • Fou à pieds rouges (French)
  • Cool Facts