BOOBIES

One of the most photographed sea birds in Galapagos, Boobies received their unusual name (a slang term for stupid) by being foolish enough 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 booby, red-footed booby and Nazca booby.

Blue Footed Booby (Sula neboxuii)

Blue-footed boobies are named for their distinctive bright blue legs and feet. These are the most common and non-descript of the Galapagos booby. Their natural habitat extends from through the tropical and subtropical Pacific area from Peru to California. The blue footed boobies diet consists mainly of fish. The birds can be seen diving like a dart in the air from great heights into the ocean in search of sardines, anchovies, mackerel and other fish.

The blue-footed booby is approximately 32 inches in length (81 cm) and weighs just over 3 lbs (1.5 kg). Females can be identified as they are slightly larger, have brighter blue feet and a larger pupil. Blue footed boobies have an elaborate courting ritual consisting of dancing, whistling and a display of feathers known as sky pointing.

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. Couples are monogamous and share caring for the eggs and their young. Nests are built on the ground and are identified by the ring of guano around where the eggs are laid.

The female normally lays 2 to 3 eggs each 8 to 9 months. Blue footed boobies are one of only two species of booby that will raise more than one chick. Young blue-footed boobies 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.

Red Footed Booby (Sula sula)

The red-footed booby is the smallest booby growing to be 28 in (71 cm) long with a wingspan of 4-½ ft (1.37m). Most of the red-footed 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 booby differs from the other boobies by making their nests in small trees and shrubs. Colonies of Red Footed Boobies can be found on Tower, Darwin, Wolf, Gardener-near-Floreana, Punta Pitt on the eastern edge of San Cristobal. 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.

Nazca Booby (Sula dactylatra)

The Nazca Booby is 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 1.8m). Adult birds are easily identified with their beautiful white head, body and wing coverts, dark tails, masks, and patches on their backs. Young Nazca boobies with their gray legs and feet their dark head and bellies can be mistaken for the brown booby.

Nazca Boobies were regarded as a subspecies of the masked booby, yet in recent years has been recognized as a separate species. The Nazca Booby's range is in the eastern Pacific from the Galapagos to Baja California.

The Nazca Booby are the only boobies in the Galapagos Islands 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.

The parent will typically lay two eggs several days apart. If both eggs hatch the elder chick will push the younger chick out of the nest allowing it to die from thirst or cold.