Blue feet are
really cool
Blue-footed booby
Do you know what the coolest feet in the bird world are? Blue feet, of course! And if you’re lucky enough to spot a blue-footed booby, you’ll be able to witness their coolness firsthand.
Blue-footed boobies are one of the most interesting and unique birds in the world, and their cool coloration makes them stand out from the crowd. While they may look like something out of a cartoon, these birds are very real and absolutely fascinating!
Keep reading to learn more about these cool creatures.
What are blue-footed boobies?
Blue-footed boobies are a species of seabird with blue feet, which is because of the presence of carotenoids in their diet. These birds are relatively small, weighing in at around three pounds, and they have a wingspan of approximately five feet.
The males and females look very similar, except for the fact that males have brighter-colored blue feet and the female’s feet are a darker blue and are slightly larger than the males. Both sexes also have white plumage and black wingtips.
Their name originated from the Spanish word ‘bobo’, which means “stupid” or “clown.” This likely comes from the fact that these birds are often clumsy when they are on land. While they may look a bit silly, blue-footed boobies are quite graceful in the air.
Where do the blue-footed boobies live?
Blue-footed boobies can be found on the western coasts of Central and South America, as well as on the Galápagos Islands. The Galápagos Island population includes about half of all breeding pairs of blue-footed boobies.
The blue-footed boobies can often be found at North Seymour, one of the Galapagos’ seabird breeding grounds. Breeding populations can also be found on:
- Santa Cruz
- Espanola
- Fernandina
- Isabela
- Pinzon
- Floreana
These islands south of the equator offer the perfect habitat for blue-footed boobies, as they are mostly arid with little vegetation. The lack of trees means that there are few places for these birds to perch, so they spend most of their time on the ground or in the water
BFB Facts
Finding a Mate
Finding a Mate
The blue-footed boobies bright blue feet play an important role in their mating rituals. During the breeding season, between June and August, males will display their feet to females in a special dance known as the “skypoint.”
The skypoint is a way for males to show off their blue feet and attract a mate. The brighter the blue, the more attractive they appear to females. Females prefer males with brighter blue feet as an indicator of the health and quality of their genes.
Once a male has caught a female’s attention, he will present her with a stick, feather, or a stone as an offering. If they impress the female, she will accept his gift and they will mate for life.
Family Life
Family Life
Once the blue-footed boobies have mated, they typically lay two eggs at a time, which are incubated for around six weeks. Both parents share in the incubation duties. This includes using their blue webbed feet to keep their young warm.
They also share in the duties of caring for the young chicks. One parent will feed their young regurgitated fish while the other keeps watch for predators. Once the chicks are around two months old, they will leave the nest and start to fend for themselves.
The blue-footed booby population is declining
Although these birds were once abundant, the blue-footed booby population is now in decline. The population that previously numbered 20,000 breeding individuals is now believed to be closer to 6,400.
The biggest threat to these birds is the loss of their primary food source, sardines. Because of overfishing and pollution in the seas, this is considered to be one reason for its decline. When the sardine population crashes, the blue-footed boobies can survive however they no longer mate or lay eggs.
With no new babies being born each year, the blue-footed booby population is slowly dying out.
Save the blue-footed booby, one sock at a time!
