Sula sula
Its external nostrils are closed to allow for plunge-diving, but it has developed secondary nostrils beside the mouth which are automatically covered by flaps when it plunges. The skin around its face is generally bare. The eyes are beside the bill, face forward, and have very pale irises. The wings are long, pointed, and situated fairly far back on the body.he legs are short and strong, and the feet are large and totipalmate The plumage is molted continuously so as not to hinder the bird's flight capability at any one time, however, molt is suspended during breeding. Feathers are renewed 1 to 2 times yearly. Sula sula lacks a brood patch because it would interfere with streamlining and insulation. There are several morphs of this bird, often making it difficult to identify without noting the color of its feet. The morphs are: the white-tailed brown morph, the white headed and white tailed brown morph, the white morph (which has black on its wings), the black-tailed white morph (found on the Galapagos Islands), and the golden white morph (found on the Christmas Islands).
Not Threatened.
Its external nostrils are closed to allow for plunge-diving, but it has developed secondary nostrils beside the mouth which are automatically covered by flaps when it plunges. The skin around its face is generally bare. The eyes are beside the bill, face forward, and have very pale irises. The wings are long, pointed, and situated fairly far back on the body.he legs are short and strong, and the feet are large and totipalmate The plumage is molted continuously so as not to hinder the bird's flight capability at any one time, however, molt is suspended during breeding. Feathers are renewed 1 to 2 times yearly. Sula sula lacks a brood patch because it would interfere with streamlining and insulation. There are several morphs of this bird, often making it difficult to identify without noting the color of its feet. The morphs are: the white-tailed brown morph, the white headed and white tailed brown morph, the white morph (which has black on its wings), the black-tailed white morph (found on the Galapagos Islands), and the golden white morph (found on the Christmas Islands).
Red-footed boobies are 70 to 71 cm long, on average and have a wingspan of 91 to 101 cm. They weigh from 900 to 1003 g.
Taxonomy:
- Pelecanus Sula Linnaeus, 1766, Barbados, West Indies. Three subspecies commonly recognized, though validity doubtful. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * sula (Linnaeus, 1766) - – Caribbean and SW Atlantic. * rubripes Gould, 1838 - – tropical W & C Pacific and Indian Oceans. * websteri Rothschild, 1898 - – E Pacific.
Red-footed boobies make their nests in the tops of trees on islands and coasts in tropical regions. They may also nest in low scrub. They inhabit islands and coastal regions in the tropics, because they prey on fish in pelagic regions of the ocean.
Sula sula preys on fish. It is known to hunt up to 150 km out to sea, much farther than other Sulids. It plunge-dives to moderate depths (approximately 4 to 10 m) in order to acquire fish, which it catches and swallows on its return to the surface. Red-footed boobies can fly higher than other Sulids (10 to 30 m) when searching for food because of their binocular vision. Once prey are sighted, the bird will dive straight down into the water, reaching its top speed just before entry. The larger females can often catch food that is deeper than the smaller males because of their weight.
Red-footed boobies mate approximately once every 15 months, depending on food availability. They are known for their somewhat flimsy, unstable nests which are often damaged by storms. They often build their nests in trees. Their choice of nest location may be a way to avoid competition for space, since other species of boobies nest on the ground. Pairs mate and lay one egg at a time, raising that egg to maturity. Incubation lasts between 41 and 45 days and the young fledge as young as 91 days old.