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| + | [[Image:1568red_footed_boobyDSC_00101_by_Neil.jpg |thumb|550px|right|White phase bird<br />Photo by {{user|Neil|Neil}}<br/>Oahu, [[Hawaii]], [[USA]]]] | ||
;[[:Category:Sula|Sula]] sula | ;[[:Category:Sula|Sula]] sula | ||
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==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
L. 26-29 in | L. 26-29 in | ||
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*Bluish bill with pink base | *Bluish bill with pink base | ||
*Bluish skin around the eye | *Bluish skin around the eye | ||
| − | ===Brown Phase=== | + | [[Image:Red-footed_Booby.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Brown phase bird<br />Photo by {{user|LMG|LMG}}]] |
| + | ====Brown Phase==== | ||
*Wings darker than head, neck and underside of body | *Wings darker than head, neck and underside of body | ||
*Pink face | *Pink face | ||
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*Most have white tip to tail | *Most have white tip to tail | ||
*Many have dark brown necklace around upper breast | *Many have dark brown necklace around upper breast | ||
| − | ===Brown with White tail==== | + | ====Brown with White tail==== |
Fundamentally similar to the brown phase except that the entire tail, undertail coverts, and uppertail coverts are white. | Fundamentally similar to the brown phase except that the entire tail, undertail coverts, and uppertail coverts are white. | ||
| − | ===White phase=== | + | ====White phase==== |
*Entirely white, except for flight feathers | *Entirely white, except for flight feathers | ||
*Distinctive black bar on distal underwing coverts | *Distinctive black bar on distal underwing coverts | ||
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====Juvenile==== | ====Juvenile==== | ||
Birds are similar to the brown color phase, but lack the pink base to the bill. They start out with the bill all gray and feet that are dusky to orange; the bill then turn two-colored with dark tip and lighter inner part that may be fleshy. The juvenile also have the head and neck lighter than the upperside of the wing, and compared with e.g., juvenile [[Brown Booby]] has darker underwing lacking the white areas seen in the latter. | Birds are similar to the brown color phase, but lack the pink base to the bill. They start out with the bill all gray and feet that are dusky to orange; the bill then turn two-colored with dark tip and lighter inner part that may be fleshy. The juvenile also have the head and neck lighter than the upperside of the wing, and compared with e.g., juvenile [[Brown Booby]] has darker underwing lacking the white areas seen in the latter. | ||
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==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
This is a pan-tropical species with nominate subspecies breeding in the [[Caribbean]] (only white and brown with white tail) and off [[Brazil]], with ''rubripes'' breeding in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and ''websteri'' breeding off [[Mexico]] and [[Central America]]. | This is a pan-tropical species with nominate subspecies breeding in the [[Caribbean]] (only white and brown with white tail) and off [[Brazil]], with ''rubripes'' breeding in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and ''websteri'' breeding off [[Mexico]] and [[Central America]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
Formerly placed under the name ''Sula piscator''. | Formerly placed under the name ''Sula piscator''. | ||
| − | ====Subspecies==== | + | ====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>==== |
| − | Three subspecies | + | Three subspecies: |
| + | *''S. s. sula'': Red-footed Booby (Atlantic) | ||
| + | :*Breeds islands in [[Caribbean]] and off [[Brazil]] | ||
| + | *''S. s. rubripes'': Red-footed Booby (Hawaiian) | ||
| + | :*Breeds islands in tropical Pacific and [[India]]n oceans | ||
| + | *''S. s. websteri'' Red-footed Booby (Eastern Pacific) | ||
| + | :*Islands off western [[Mexico]], [[Central America]] and [[Galapagos Islands]] | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Pelagic; rarely seen near land except near breeding colonies which are normally situated on small islands. | Pelagic; rarely seen near land except near breeding colonies which are normally situated on small islands. | ||
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====Feeding==== | ====Feeding==== | ||
It is a strong flyer which rarely dive vertically but instead often flies into a wave or hit calmer water in a shallow angle. May also catch flying-fish above water. | It is a strong flyer which rarely dive vertically but instead often flies into a wave or hit calmer water in a shallow angle. May also catch flying-fish above water. | ||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}} | ||
| + | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Red-footed+Booby}} | {{GSearch|Red-footed+Booby}} | ||
Revision as of 13:48, 24 September 2009
- Sula sula
Identification
L. 26-29 in
- Long tail
- Short neck
- Red feet
- Black flight feathers
- Primaries and, in most populations, outer secondaries
- Bluish bill with pink base
- Bluish skin around the eye
Brown Phase
- Wings darker than head, neck and underside of body
- Pink face
- Bluish bill
- Most have white tip to tail
- Many have dark brown necklace around upper breast
Brown with White tail
Fundamentally similar to the brown phase except that the entire tail, undertail coverts, and uppertail coverts are white.
White phase
- Entirely white, except for flight feathers
- Distinctive black bar on distal underwing coverts
- See image
- Yellow wash on head and neck in some populations
Some Pacific populations have most of the tail black, while in the Caribbean and around Australia, the tail is white.
Juvenile
Birds are similar to the brown color phase, but lack the pink base to the bill. They start out with the bill all gray and feet that are dusky to orange; the bill then turn two-colored with dark tip and lighter inner part that may be fleshy. The juvenile also have the head and neck lighter than the upperside of the wing, and compared with e.g., juvenile Brown Booby has darker underwing lacking the white areas seen in the latter.
Distribution
This is a pan-tropical species with nominate subspecies breeding in the Caribbean (only white and brown with white tail) and off Brazil, with rubripes breeding in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and websteri breeding off Mexico and Central America.
Taxonomy
Formerly placed under the name Sula piscator.
Subspecies[1]
Three subspecies:
- S. s. sula: Red-footed Booby (Atlantic)
- S. s. rubripes: Red-footed Booby (Hawaiian)
- Breeds islands in tropical Pacific and Indian oceans
- S. s. websteri Red-footed Booby (Eastern Pacific)
- Islands off western Mexico, Central America and Galapagos Islands
Habitat
Pelagic; rarely seen near land except near breeding colonies which are normally situated on small islands.
Behaviour
Breeding
May breed in any month with nests situated in trees and bushes, rarely on the ground.
Feeding
It is a strong flyer which rarely dive vertically but instead often flies into a wave or hit calmer water in a shallow angle. May also catch flying-fish above water.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Red-footed Booby. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 12 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Red-footed_Booby
