In turn, male blue-footed boobies will sometimes neglect smaller eggs as this female may not be as valuable when it comes to reproduction.Īs you can imagine, this already puts stress on the population of blue-footed boobies, so added factors only make the situation worse.Īdditionally, in Galapagos islands, there seems to be a shortage of sardines, an integral part of the blue-footed booby diet.ĭue to the fact that the feet of the blue-footed booby get their color from their diet and the color of their feet impacts their ability to reproduce, this is a huge issue. However, males do not always take on these responsibilities after the eggs have been laid or hatched. This is because larger eggs typically indicate the female has better reproductive abilities. More specifically, though these birds typically lay about two to three eggs, only one to two chicks usually hatch from this group.įurther, male blue-footed boobies are usually responsible for providing food and keeping the eggs warm for part of the incubation period. Apparently, blue-footed boobies in this region are having difficulty reproducing, resulting in fewer offspring. Interestingly, the process of blue-footed booby reproduction is not exactly fool proof. The reason for this decline is the issue of breeding. In April 2014, a project was completed revealing that populations of blue-footed boobies are in fact declining at a slow rate in the Galapagos islands. So, is the blue-footed booby extinct? Well, the answer to this question might be a little more complex than you expected.Ĭurrently, blue-footed boobies are listed as a species of the least concern for extinction however, populations in the Galapagos islands say otherwise. Read on to find out! Is the Blue-Footed Booby Extinct? They are known for their bright blue feet, which actually serve many purposes in their lives.īut, you may be thinking: I’ve never seen one of these birds, does this mean the blue-footed booby is extinct? They also have permanently closed nostrils and breathe through the corners of their mouth when above water.Blue-footed boobies are unique-looking marine birds. Its swiftness means it can plunge into less than 2 feet of water, pulling out of a dive at remarkable speeds. The blue-footed species is especially well-adapted to the underwater world. With their cigar-shaped body, narrow wings, and long pointed tail, these birds are remarkably agile in the water. Blue-Footed Boobies make excellent swimmers Boobies also dive from sitting position on the water’s surface and can also be seen feeding on flying fish which they can catch mid-air. They tilt downward at a near-vertical angle, hold their wings back against their streamlined body and also have air sacks in their skulls to protect against the impact. When the booby has spotted its prey it will plunge headfirst into the ocean from heights of up to 80 feet, honing in on its target with great force, speed and precision. They are a social species and can often be found in flocks of up to 200 scouring the water for fish with their excellent binocular-style vision. Their diet consists of fish, mainly sardines, anchovies and mackerel, which they catch through a spectacular dive into the water from the air. Blue-Footed Boobies are impressive divers Females are larger than males and can also be identified by a dark ring of pigment around the pupil, whilst males are distinguished by their pleasant whistle.ĭive 3.
#Blue footed boobies reading with answer skin#
The bird’s facial skin has a bluish tinge, its chest and undersides are white, whilst the rest of its body are covered in shaggy brown and white feathers. Apart from their large blue webbed feet, they are characterized by a long neck, sharp narrow bill and pale brown wings that span about five feet.
Other boobies include the red-footed booby, masked booby, brown booby, Nazca booby and Peruvian booby, but the blue-footed type is the most common in the Galapagos. Read on to learn a host of interesting facts about this intriguing creature.īlue-footed boobies ( sula nebouxii) are one of six species of boobies that belongs to the order Pelecaniformes (pelicans and their relatives).
These charismatic birds are sure to catch your eye, and not just because of their striking bright blue feet. The Galapagos Islands are home to so many unique and fascinating wildlife species, and amongst the most famous are the blue-footed boobies.
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