Red-footed Booby Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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.

The oldest recorded Red-footed Booby was at least 22 years, 11 months old.

Tricky Bird IDs

Common Feeder Birds: Quick Info on Food Preferences

Building Skills: The 4 Keys to Bird Identification

Mesmerizing Migration: Watch 118 Bird Species Migrate Across a Map of the Western Hemisphere

6 Steps to Choosing a Pair of Binoculars You'll Love

Why Birds Hit Windows—and How You Can Help Prevent It

Don't miss a thing! Join our email list

Basic Description

Other Names

Tricky Bird IDs

Common Feeder Birds: Quick Info on Food Preferences

Building Skills: The 4 Keys to Bird Identification

Mesmerizing Migration: Watch 118 Bird Species Migrate Across a Map of the Western Hemisphere

6 Steps to Choosing a Pair of Binoculars You'll Love

Why Birds Hit Windows—and How You Can Help Prevent It