Sula brewsteri
The Cocos Booby (Sula brewsteri) is a striking pelagic seabird, often considered a distinct species but sometimes classified as a subspecies of the widespread Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra brewsteri) or Nazca Booby (Sula granti brewsteri). This magnificent booby typically measures 71-91 cm (28-36 in) in length with an impressive wingspan of 137-152 cm (54-60 in) and weighs between 1.2-2.3 kg (2.6-5.1 lb). Its plumage is predominantly pristine white, contrasted sharply by dark flight feathers,...
This booby is predominantly pelagic, spending most of its life over the open ocean, returning to remote oceanic islands exclusively for breeding.
Their diet consists primarily of small to medium-sized pelagic fish, such as flying fish, anchovies, and mackerel, supplemented with squid, all captured through plunge-diving.
Cocos Boobies are diurnal hunters, spending daylight hours foraging at sea and returning to their breeding colony on Cocos Island to roost on cliff ledges or open ground. Their primary foraging strategy is plunge-diving, often from considerable heights, to snatch fish and squid near the water's s...
The breeding range of the Cocos Booby is remarkably restricted, confined almost exclusively to the remote Cocos Island (Isla del Coco), a national park of Costa Rica situated approximately 550 km (340 mi) southwest of the Costa Rican mainland in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. During the non-breeding ...
Least Concern
- The Cocos Booby is an endemic breeder to a single, isolated island: Cocos Island (Isla del Coco) off the coast of Costa Rica, making it one of the most geographically restricted booby populations in the world. - Despite often being considered a subspecies, its distinct genetic and morphological...