ID Keys: Distinctive bright red feet, grayish bill, adults have a
continuum of color phases, from nearly all white, to nearly all
brown
The
Red-footed Booby is the smallest of the boobies. They are found in
tropical waters throughout the world, and are only considered vagrants to
the United States. In the U.S., they are most often seen around
southern Florida, but there are also records in southern California, and
scattered records around the Gulf Coast. Plumage of the Red-footed
Booby is variable, with a continuum of plumages from nearly all white birds
to nearly all brown birds.
Habitat
Has breeding colonies on islands in tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They prefer islands with scattered trees or large shrubs for nest sites. Outside of the breeding season, they may be found in open waters from land.
Diet
Feeds on fish and squid, and occasionally other marine life.
Behavior
Forages by plunge-diving into the water in pursuit of prey.
Nesting
Red-footed Boobies nest in large colonies, with some colonies consisting of thousands of birds. The nest of a Red-footed booby is usually built in a shrub or tree, and is made up of twigs, grasses, and other vegetation. The female lays a single egg, and both parents help to incubate it. Both parents tend to the young and feed it, with the young not achieving independence until about four months after hatching.
Song
Has a harsh squawking sound, given on breeding colonies. Away from breeding colonies, usually silent.
Migration
There are no consistent known migration patterns, but Red-footed Boobies do disperse from breeding colonies once the young become independent. They may be found far out at sea and far from breeding colonies when not breeding.
Interactive eBird Map
Click here to access an interactive eBird map of Red-footed Booby sightings
Similar Species
Red-feet are distinctive if the bird is seen well, but otherwise can look similar to other booby species including Blue-footed Booby , Masked Booby, Brown Booby.
Conservation Status
Populations of Red-footed Booby appear to still be widespread, and they are relatively common in some areas. The IUCN lists the Red-footed Booby as a species of "Least Concern ".
Photo Information
Photo taken by Joanne Goldby - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike Generic 2.0 License .
