Boobies

Boobies received their name by allowing them to be captured while asleep. Boobies are a part of the Sulidae family made up of ten species of long-winged sea birds the size of geese. Their feet are completely webbed including hind toes, not free as in a duck. Boobies live near tropical and subtropical islands around the world, coming ashore only to breed. At sea they can be seen diving from the sky to catch fish.

The Galapagos is home to three varieties of booby the Blue-Footed, Red-Footed and Masked Boobies.

Blue-Footed Booby (Sula Neboxuii)

Named for their blue legs and feet these are the most common and non-descript of the Galapagos Booby. Their natural habitat extends from Peru to Mexico. Young blue-foots look quite similar to adults yet it takes 2 to 3 years to reach their adult plumage of a pale streaked head, dark mantle with white patches on the nape and rump, white bellies and a dark tail. Blue-Footed Boobies nest in colonies. In large colonies there is almost continuous breeding with pairs nesting every 7 to 9 months. They can be seen breeding on most islands north of the equator in the Galapagos.

Red-Footed Booby (Sula Sula)

The smallest booby grows to be 28 in (71 cm) long with a wingspan of 4-½ ft (1.37 m). Most of the Red-Foots are all brown with the exception of red legs and feet and a light blue bill with a red base. A small percent of the red-foots are mistaken for masked boobies with white heads, bodies and wings, red feet and legs, and blue beaks.

Colonial in nature the Red-Footed differs from the other boobies by making their nests in small trees and shrubs. Colonies can be found on Tower, Culpepper, Wenman, Gardener-near-Floreana, Punta and Isla Pitt. They are rarely seen in areas other than where they breed. Eggs can be found throughout the year with colonies hatching at the same times.

Masked Booby (Sula Dactylatra)

The largest of the Galapagos Booby grow to 30 to 35 inches (76 to 89 cm) in length with a wingspan of 5 to 6 ft (1.5 to 1.8 m). Adult birds are easily identified with their beautiful white head, body and wing coverts, dark tails, masks, and patches on their backs. Young masked boobies with their gray legs and feet their dark head and bellies can be mistaken for the brown booby.

Masked Boobies are common in the tropics and subtropics nesting in colonies along cliffs or at the sea edge. These are the only boobies in the Galapagos to have an annual breeding cycle, though the cycle varies between islands. On Tower Island most of the eggs are laid between August and November while on Hood Island the eggs are laid from November to February.