Masked Booby

Sula dactylatra

Photo by HelenB
Location: Caribbean, on the west side of the Lesser Antilles

Description

Length: 81 cm (32 in); width: 158 cm (62 in)

Masked Booby shows a white body, black tail, and black on wings that is limited to flight feathers and the greater coverts on the upperside of the wing. Yellow to olive 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 and white rump. Underside is white with black fligth feathers and a dark bar in the middle of the underwing coverts. Bill is dusky and feet are grayish.

Identification

In the adult bird, the all-black tail and the distribution of black in the wing allows for identification. The juvenile is not quite so distinctive, but the combination of black flight feathers, white collar and white rump should be a good starting point

Distribution and 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. In the far south/central east it is replaced with the closely related Nazca Booby (Sula granti).

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.

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

Habitat

Pelagic - restricted to warmer regions, with the occasional wanderer to colder regions.

Behaviour

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.

External Links

Search for photos of Masked Booby in the gallery

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