Cape Gannet vs Abbott's Booby

Morus capensis compared with Papasula abbotti

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Cape Gannet Abbott's Booby
Scientific Name Morus capensis Papasula abbotti
Order Suliformes Suliformes
Family Sulidae Sulidae
Conservation Status Endangered Endangered
Length — —
Wingspan 90.0 cm (35.4 in) 88.5 cm (34.8 in)
Weight 2592.6666666666665 g (91.45 oz) 1540.0 g (54.32 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 1 1
Population Trend — —

Conservation Status

Endangered

Cape Gannet

Endangered

Abbott's Booby

About These Birds

Cape Gannet

84–94 cm, wingspan 171 cm. White with black wingtips; yellow-buff head; blue-grey bill. Breeds only on islands off South Africa and Namibia in the Benguela upwelling. Endangered; dramatic decline due to food competition with purse-seine fisheries. Plunge-dives for anchovy.

Abbott's Booby

79 cm. Largely white with black flight feathers and tail; pink bill; blue facial skin. Only booby nesting in trees. Breeds Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). Endangered; fewer than 6,000 pairs; threatened by phosphate mining and introduced yellow crazy ants. Ranges Indian and Pacific oceans.

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