Adorable Booby Birds

Boobies are seabirds inhabiting tropical and subtropical water all over the globe. These birds are part of the Sulidae family of seabirds, which also includes cormorants and gannets. Boobies are known for their graceful flights, large size, and distinctive colors. They nest in large colonies alongside other seabirds. Their diet consists of fish, squid, and other small sea animals. They dive into the water to catch their prey.

Abbott’s boobies are endangered seabirds and found only in a few locations on Christmas Island. The American naturalist and explorer William Louis Abbot discovered these birds when he traveled to Assumption Island in 1892. These boobies feed on small fish and nest near cliffs, where they build their nests with sticks, feathers, and other natural materials.

Australian gannets have white feathers and black flight feathers lining their wings. Their heads are buff-yellow with blue-gray bills. These birds inhabit the coasts of Australia and New Zealand and the nearby islands—Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Kangaroo Island, and others. They are good swimmers, feeding on fish by plunging into the sea from great heights.

Blue-footed boobies are marine birds living in the subtropical and tropical areas of the eastern Pacific Ocean. They are known for their bright blue feet, which occur due to their diet and are also used for attracting females. During their mating ritual, they lift up their feet to show off their brilliant coloring, hoping to attract a mate. Boobies are expert divers hunting for fish and squid in reefs and open ocean water. They also dine on crustaceans that float near the water surface.

Brown boobies are large seabirds found in many areas of the world. They have yellow feet. (pictured above) These birds live in flocks. They dive into shallow waters to catch small fish. Brown boobies are known for their short wings letting them pursue prey quickly. Their diet consists of squid, crustaceans, and eggs of other birds.

Cape gannets are known for their large size and striking black-and-white plumage. Their heads and necks are a striking yellow-white with pale blue bills. They have great diving abilities, plunging up to 25 meters underwater at speeds of over 60 kilometers per hour in pursuit of fish. Their diets mainly consist of small schooling fish such as sardines or anchovies, but squid and crustaceans may also be eaten from time to time.

Masked boobies are large and part of the gannet family. These birds were first described by the French naturalist Rene-Primevere Lesson in 1831. They have impressive aerodynamic body shapes, pale gray or white plumage on their heads and necks, and the rest is blackish brown with yellow bills that are pointed at the tip. Masked boobies have bright blue skin around their eyes, so it seems they are wearing a mask and have also been called “blue-faced” boobies. They mostly feed on flying fish in tropical waters.

Nazca boobies are large seabirds that are native to the eastern Pacific. They have long orange-yellow bills and aerodynamic bodies. These boobies were first described in 1902 by British zoologist Walter Rothschild. The birds have elongated necks and long wings for faster flights. Their webbed feet help them be strong swimmers. Nazca boobies dine on squid and small fish, which they catch flying over the ocean surface and diving from above. During breeding season males perform elaborate courtship displays like sky-pointing calls and head-nodding ritual dances, as well as puff out their chest feathers, showcasing their bright colors.

Northern gannets are the largest species of seabirds in the northern Atlantic. They have white plumage and long necks with yellowish head feathers and black-tipped wings. They breed along the western coast of Europe as well as northeastern North America. Northern gannets forage for fish, diving into the sea from above. Their diet includes herring, mackerel, and sand eels.

Peruvian boobies are endemic birds of the Peruvian current and top predators in marine habitats. These birds are the second biggest contributors to guano production. They have brown upperparts and white underparts, as well as white heads.  Their diet consists of small fish.  They rely on the cold, productive waters of the Humboldt Current upwelling system for a consistent food source.

Red-footed boobies are known for their bright red feet. These are strong birds and swift fliers. Their webbed feet make them a bit clumsy at takeoffs and landings. These birds inhabit tropical areas and breed colonially on coastal islands all over the globe.  These birds have red legs, and their bills and throat pouches are colored pink and blue. Red-footed boobies are carnivores, mainly eating small fish or squid that gather in groups near the surface.