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Blue-footed Booby

The blue-footed booby got its name from the Spanish word bobo, which means “stupid fellow”. This is likely due to its lack of fear and clumsiness on land which has made these birds vulnerable to humans.

 

Donning a comical appearance, these tropical seabirds sport a striking look with bright blue webbed feet and blue-grey facial skin! Blue-footed boobies are found off the western coast of North and South America, from California to Peru, including in the Galapagos Islands. Their feathers range from brown on their wings to a cinnamon-brown color on their heads, and their blue tapered bill has serrated edges, allowing them to tightly grasp their prey. Those blue feet aren’t just for show — as part of a courtship display, males will flaunt their vibrant feet to try and win over a mate. The brighter his feet, the better his chances! 

The blue-footed booby specializes in catching fish by plunge-diving from heights up to 24.4 meters (80 feet) in the air. They hunt in flocks, alerting others with a whistle when they spot a fish, and have even been known to hunt in the company of dolphins and Peruvian boobies. Their diet consists primarily of sardines, anchovies, and mackerel, but they also eat flying fish and squid. 

 

 

Though classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, the Galapagos subspecies population appears to be struggling. It is believed that the 1997/1998 El Niño event led to the disappearance of fish, leading to a food shortage and later, a chronic lack of breeding. Since 2001, this population has been in decline.  

 

 

While El Niño events occur naturally, climate change can amplify their effects and increase the strain they put on ecosystems. As climate change continues to lead to changing weather patterns around the world, species like the blue-footed booby can face serious impacts. Oceana campaigns to tackle climate change by stopping the expansion of new offshore drilling — a major contributor to the crisis.      

 

 

 

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