Sula leucogaster
The Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) is a striking medium-sized seabird, measuring 64-76 cm in length with a wingspan of 130-150 cm and weighing between 900-1500 g. Its most distinctive feature is the stark contrast between its dark brown head, neck, and upperparts, and its brilliant white belly and underwing coverts, a field mark easily spotted over tropical oceans. Adults exhibit a pale yellowish-green to bright yellow bill, complemented by similarly colored facial skin and feet, which aids i...
Found in tropical and subtropical marine environments, primarily near offshore islands, rocky islets, and coastal areas, ranging from sea level to low-lying insular terrain.
Feeds primarily on small to medium-sized fish, such as sardines, anchovies, flying fish, and mullet, along with squid, caught by plunge-diving.
Brown Boobies are diurnal, actively foraging during the day and roosting on rocky ledges, low bushes, or open ground on islands at night. Their primary foraging strategy is spectacular plunge-diving, where they spot prey from the air and dive headfirst into the water from heights of up to 30 mete...
The Brown Booby boasts a truly pantropical distribution, breeding on numerous islands across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. In the Atlantic, significant breeding colonies are found in the Caribbean (e.g., Dry Tortugas, Desecheo Island, Mona Island), the Gulf of Mexico, coastal Brazil, ...
Least Concern
- The name "booby" originates from the Spanish word "bobo," meaning "stupid" or "clown," referring to their apparent tameness and clumsiness on land, making them easy prey for early sailors. - They are highly specialized plunge-divers, often hitting the water at speeds over 50 km/h (30 mph) and c...