Masked Booby vs Blue-footed Booby

Sula dactylatra compared with Sula nebouxii

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Masked Booby Blue-footed Booby
Scientific Name Sula dactylatra Sula nebouxii
Order Suliformes Suliformes
Family Sulidae Sulidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 82.4 cm (32.4 in) 82.1 cm (32.3 in)
Weight 1811.8 g (63.91 oz) 1590.0 g (56.09 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 1-2 1-3
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Masked Booby only

None

Blue-footed Booby only

None

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Masked Booby

Least Concern

Blue-footed Booby

About These Birds

Masked Booby

74–92 cm. White with black wingtips and tail; yellow bill; white orbital skin. Breeds tropical Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian ocean islands; the largest booby. Feeds on fish and squid by high plunge-dives. Often displaces other boobies at nest sites; aggressive.

Blue-footed Booby

76–84 cm. Brown-and-white; vivid turquoise-blue feet diagnostic. Breeds Galapagos, Pacific coast of South and Central America. Uses elaborate sky-pointing displays with blue feet. Feeds on anchovies by plunge-diving; highly susceptible to El Niño food shortages.

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