Blue Footed Booby

  • Galapagos Wildlife: Blue footed booby chick © Liz Hall

    Blue footed booby chick © Liz Hall

  • Galapagos Wildlife: Blue footed booby pair © Sally Wellman

    Blue footed booby pair © Sally Wellman

  • Galapagos Wildlife: Flying boobies © Caroline Pannell

    Flying boobies © Caroline Pannell

Species Data

Common Name Blue footed booby
Scientific Name Sula nebouxii
Spanish Name Piquero patas azules
Conservation Status

species1_leastconcern

Least Concern

Endemic/Native/Introduced

Native

Size 76-84cm length, 152-158cm wingspan
Average Lifespan Up to 17 years
Predators As chicks, owls and hawks are potential predators
Food Piscivore (sardines, anchovies, mackerel and squid)
Animal Class Bird

Species Overview

The blue footed booby is a unique bird species most noticeable because of its bright blue webbed feet. The name booby comes from the Spanish word ‘bobo’ meaning ‘fool’ due to the bird’s clumsiness on land. In the air however, these birds are strong and agile fliers and are often seen foraging in groups of up to 200. They are excellent hunters, spotting prey on the wing and plunging head first into the ocean from a height of up to 30 metres in order to catch it.

 

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