General

Blue-footed Booby: Large, gull-like seabird with white body, brown wings and brown-streaked head and back. Blue-gray bill is long and stout. Legs and feet are powder blue. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has more brown on head, shoulders, and back. Plunge dives for fish from 50 feet above shallow water. Alternates rapid, deep wing beats with sailing glides.

Range and Habitat

Blue-footed Booby: This resident species breeds from Gulf of California along the Pacific coasts of Central and South America to Peru. In summer, a few stray to Salton Sea in southeastern California or, infrequently, to southern California coast. This species is pelagic, only coming ashore to breed.

Breeding and Nesting

Blue-footed Booby: Two to three chalky, pale blue-green eggs are laid on flat ground. Both parents incubate eggs for 41 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Blue-footed Booby: Feeds on fish. Plunge dives from up to 50 feet above water; capable of catching flying fish in the air. The male and female are adapted for catching fish of different sizes. The larger female dives further offshore in deeper waters, while the male makes shallow dives closer to land.

Vocalization

Blue-footed Booby: Silent at sea; on breeding grounds male gives a long whistle.

Similar Species

Blue-footed Booby: Brown Booby lacks white central tail feathers, and has yellow bill and feet, and brown chest and back.