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Difference between revisions of "Masked Booby" - BirdForum Opus

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;Sula dactylatra
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[[Image:Masked_Booby_by_Steve.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Adult, Nominate race<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Steve|Steve}}<br/>[[Caribbean]], 28 December 2007]]
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[[Image:Masked_Booby.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by HelenB]]
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;[[:Category:Sula|Sula]] dactylatra
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==Description==
 
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Belongs to the Sulidae family, along with the gannets, which are all diving seabirds, plunging into the sea from a great height after prey.
 
  
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==Identification :==
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==Identification==
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Length: 81cm (32") Width: 158cm (62")  
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[[Image:Masked_booby_and_chick_by_OzV.jpg‎|thumb|350px|right|Adult with chick, ''S. d. tasmani''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|OzV|OzV}}<br />Phillip Island, Norfolk Island, [[Australia]], 30 September 2005]]
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White body, black tail and extensive black on wings. Yellow feet, yellow bill with black facial skin producing the mask.  Juveniles have brown upper body with brown head, similar to molting young Northern Gannets, but have a pale collar.
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L. 81 cm (32 in)<br/>
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Ws. 158 cm (62 in)<br />
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'''Adult''' Masked Booby shows a white body, black tail, and black on wings that is limited to flight feathers (as seen from above and below) and the greater coverts on the upperside of the wing. Bill is yellow surrounded by black facial skin producing the mask. Legs vary from yellow to olive to dark grey depending on subspecies.  <br />
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'''Immatures''' have brown upper body with brown head, similar to molting young [[Northern Gannet]]s, but have a pale collar and white rump. Underside is white with black flight feathers and a dark bar in the middle of the underwing coverts. Bill is dusky and feet are grayish.
  
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==Distribution & Taxonomy :==
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==Distribution==
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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.  
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This species is found in the [[Caribbean]], the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and parts of the Pacific Ocean as well as around the northern parts of [[Australia]]; mostly or exclusively tropical in its range.  
  
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Found in the SW Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, the W. Indian Ocean, the E. Indian Ocean and most of the Pacific with the exception of the far south/central east where the closely related Nazca Booby (Sula granti) is found.
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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]], Redonda in [[Antigua]], and among the [[St. Vincent|Grenadines]]; very rare elsewhere in the West Indies.
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==Taxonomy==
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[[Image:MaskedBoobyIMG 9257.jpg‎|thumb|350px|right|Immature ''S. d. personata''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|jmorlan|Joseph Morlan}}<br />Philippine Sea off Minamidaitojima Island, Okinawa Prefecture, [[Japan]], 5 September 2019]]
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Previously, the [[Nazca Booby]] (''Sula granti'') was considered a race of the Masked Booby.
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====Subspecies====
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Four subspecies are recognized<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
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*''S. d. dactylatra'' is found in the [[Caribbean]] and the south-west Atlantic Ocean
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*''S. d. melanops'' is found in the western Indian Ocean
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*''S. d. personata'' in the central and western Pacific
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*''S. d. tasmani'' in the northern Tasman Sea.
  
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Previously, the Nazca Booby (Sula granti) was considered a race of the Masked Booby. In the Caribbean the Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra dactylatra) is the nominate race.
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==Habitat==
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Pelagic.
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==Behaviour==
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====Diet====
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Includes fish
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====Breeding====
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It nests mostly on flat terrain including scrapes in sand and 2 eggs are laid. Colonial nesting on islands and cays is the rule.
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====Vocalisation====
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Silent at sea. At breeding colony has reedy whistling greeting call.
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====Movements====
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Most adults remain within vicinity of colonies. However, young birds and some adults may wander considerable distances.
  
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This photo was taken in the Caribbean, on the west side of the Lesser Antilles in Nov. 2004.
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug19}}#[http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2009/08/07/rsbl.2009.0478.abstract?sid=f65cc0ae-7f9d-4044-aae7-7be744b2968a Abstract] of the paper reporting identity of Tasman Booby with subspecies ''fullagari''.
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#Howell & Webb, 1995. A guide to the birds of Mexico and northern Central America. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198540124
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#Pizzey, G. & Knight, F. 1997. Birds of Australia (Collins Field Guide). HarperCollins Publishers, London. ISBN 0-00-220132-1
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#Raffaele et al. 1998. Birds of the West Indies. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0713649054
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#{{Ref-Brazil91}}#{{Ref-Brazil18}}#Carboneras, C., Christie, D.A., Jutglar, F., Garcia, E.F.J. & Kirwan, G.M. (2019). Masked Booby (''Sula dactylatra''). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/52623 on 5 October 2019).
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#Marchant, S. & Higgins, P.J. (co-ordinating editors) 1990. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds. Volume 1, Ratites to ducks; Part B, Australian pelican to ducks. Melbourne, Oxford University Press. Pages 737, 748, 763-772; plates 56 & 58.
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#Dutson, G. (2011) Birds of Melanesia, Christopher Helm, London.
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{{ref}}
  
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==Habitat :==
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==External Links==
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Pelagic - restricted to warmer regions, with the occasional wanderer to colder regions.
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{{GSearch|"Sula dactylatra" {{!}} "Masked Booby"}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
  
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Sula]]
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==Behaviour: ==
 
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Generally strictly pelagic (has been recorded more than 1,000 km. from land). Feeds almost exclusively on fish (less frequently squid) caught via a plunge-dive from moderate to great height. Regularly fall victim to piracy by Frigatebirds. Normally only seen close to the shore in the vicinity of the breeding colonies. Prefer to nest on cliff ledges (where take-off is easier), but will use the ground if no cliffs are available. Average is two eggs, but only rarely does more than a single chick survive. Individuals have been known to reach an age of 20+ years.
 
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==External Links==
 
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*[http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/search.php?searchid=876 View more images of Masked Booby in the gallery]
 
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[[Category:Birds]]
 

Latest revision as of 19:06, 31 May 2023

Adult, Nominate race
Photo © by Steve
Caribbean, 28 December 2007
Sula dactylatra

Identification

Adult with chick, S. d. tasmani
Photo © by OzV
Phillip Island, Norfolk Island, Australia, 30 September 2005

L. 81 cm (32 in)
Ws. 158 cm (62 in)
Adult Masked Booby shows a white body, black tail, and black on wings that is limited to flight feathers (as seen from above and below) and the greater coverts on the upperside of the wing. Bill is yellow surrounded by black facial skin producing the mask. Legs vary from yellow to olive to dark grey depending on subspecies.
Immatures have brown upper body with brown head, similar to molting young Northern Gannets, but have a pale collar and white rump. Underside is white with black flight feathers and a dark bar in the middle of the underwing coverts. Bill is dusky and feet are grayish.

Distribution

This species is found in the Caribbean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and parts of the Pacific Ocean as well as around the northern parts of Australia; mostly or exclusively tropical in its range.

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, Redonda in Antigua, and among the Grenadines; very rare elsewhere in the West Indies.

Taxonomy

Immature S. d. personata
Photo © by Joseph Morlan
Philippine Sea off Minamidaitojima Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, 5 September 2019

Previously, the Nazca Booby (Sula granti) was considered a race of the Masked Booby.

Subspecies

Four subspecies are recognized[1]:

  • S. d. dactylatra is found in the Caribbean and the south-west Atlantic Ocean
  • S. d. melanops is found in the western Indian Ocean
  • S. d. personata in the central and western Pacific
  • S. d. tasmani in the northern Tasman Sea.

Habitat

Pelagic.

Behaviour

Diet

Includes fish

Breeding

It nests mostly on flat terrain including scrapes in sand and 2 eggs are laid. Colonial nesting on islands and cays is the rule.

Vocalisation

Silent at sea. At breeding colony has reedy whistling greeting call.

Movements

Most adults remain within vicinity of colonies. However, young birds and some adults may wander considerable distances.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Abstract of the paper reporting identity of Tasman Booby with subspecies fullagari.
  3. Howell & Webb, 1995. A guide to the birds of Mexico and northern Central America. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198540124
  4. Pizzey, G. & Knight, F. 1997. Birds of Australia (Collins Field Guide). HarperCollins Publishers, London. ISBN 0-00-220132-1
  5. Raffaele et al. 1998. Birds of the West Indies. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0713649054
  6. Brazil, M. (1991). The Birds of Japan. Smithsonian Inst. Press. Washington, D.C. ISBN 1-56098-030-3
  7. Brazil, M. (2018). Birds of Japan. Helm, London. ISBN 978-1-4729-1386-9
  8. Carboneras, C., Christie, D.A., Jutglar, F., Garcia, E.F.J. & Kirwan, G.M. (2019). Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/52623 on 5 October 2019).
  9. Marchant, S. & Higgins, P.J. (co-ordinating editors) 1990. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds. Volume 1, Ratites to ducks; Part B, Australian pelican to ducks. Melbourne, Oxford University Press. Pages 737, 748, 763-772; plates 56 & 58.
  10. Dutson, G. (2011) Birds of Melanesia, Christopher Helm, London.

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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