Blue-footed Booby vs Red-footed Booby

Sula nebouxii compared with Sula sula

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Blue-footed Booby Red-footed Booby
Scientific Name Sula nebouxii Sula sula
Order Suliformes Suliformes
Family Sulidae Sulidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 82.1 cm (32.3 in) 73.4 cm (28.9 in)
Weight 1590.0 g (56.09 oz) 1086.6 g (38.33 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 1-3 1
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Blue-footed Booby only

None

Red-footed Booby only

None

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Blue-footed Booby

Least Concern

Red-footed Booby

About These Birds

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.

Red-footed Booby

66–77 cm, wingspan 91–101 cm. Smallest booby; dimorphic: white and brown morphs; always has bright red feet. Breeds on tropical islands worldwide across Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. Nest in trees or shrubs; feeds on flyingfish and squid by plunge-diving.

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