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A rare and local year round resident in the West Indies with a total breeding population estimated to between 500 and 1700 pairs. In the [[Caribbean]], known breeding areas are southern [[Bahamas]] (probably not the last 100 years), [[Jamaica]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[Virgin Islands]], [[Anguilla]], [[Antigua]], and among the [[Grenadines]]; very rare elsewhere in the West Indies. | A rare and local year round resident in the West Indies with a total breeding population estimated to between 500 and 1700 pairs. In the [[Caribbean]], known breeding areas are southern [[Bahamas]] (probably not the last 100 years), [[Jamaica]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[Virgin Islands]], [[Anguilla]], [[Antigua]], and among the [[Grenadines]]; very rare elsewhere in the West Indies. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
− | The nominate race (''Sula dactylatra dactylatra'') is found in the [[Caribbean]] and the south-west Atlantic Ocean. Subspecies ''melanops'' is found in the western Indian Ocean, ''personata'' in the central and western Pacific, and ''fullagari'' in the northern Tasman Sea. | + | The nominate race (''Sula dactylatra dactylatra'') is found in the [[Caribbean]] and the south-west Atlantic Ocean. Subspecies ''melanops'' is found in the western Indian Ocean, ''personata'' in the central and western Pacific, and ''fullagari'' in the northern Tasman Sea. A recent paper demonstrate that an extinct species |
+ | (Tasman Booby) is synonymous with the latter subspecies, and due to naming conventions that fullagari should be replaced by ''tasmani''. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Previously, the [[Nazca Booby]] (''Sula granti'') was considered a race of the Masked Booby. | ||
− | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Pelagic. | Pelagic. |
Revision as of 13:19, 14 August 2009
- Sula dactylatra
Identification
L. 81 cm (32 in)
Ws. 158 cm (62 in)
- White body
- Black tail
- Black on wings
- Yellow to olive feet
- Yellow bill
- Black mask
- White underside
- Black flight feathers
- Dark bar in the middle of the underwing coverts
- Dusky bill
- Greyish feet
Distribution
A rare and local year round resident in the West Indies with a total breeding population estimated to between 500 and 1700 pairs. In the Caribbean, known breeding areas are southern Bahamas (probably not the last 100 years), Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Antigua, and among the Grenadines; very rare elsewhere in the West Indies.
Taxonomy
The nominate race (Sula dactylatra dactylatra) is found in the Caribbean and the south-west Atlantic Ocean. Subspecies melanops is found in the western Indian Ocean, personata in the central and western Pacific, and fullagari in the northern Tasman Sea. A recent paper demonstrate that an extinct species (Tasman Booby) is synonymous with the latter subspecies, and due to naming conventions that fullagari should be replaced by tasmani.
Previously, the Nazca Booby (Sula granti) was considered a race of the Masked Booby.
Habitat
Pelagic.
Behaviour
Diet
Includes fish
Breeding
It nests on cliff ledges and 2 eggs are laid.