The Famous Boobies of the Galapagos

The three kinds of Galapagos seabirds known as boobies stand out for their attractive, and often colorful physical quirks. When visiting the Galapagos Islands, red-footed, blue-footed, and Nazca boobies capture the imagination of visitors and provide valuable insight into the way an animal’s diet and surroundings play into its evolution.

Whether you’re snapping photos of nesting blue-footed boobies on the cliffs of Floreana, spotting Nazca boobies dive for fish off the coast of Espanola, or watching red-footed boobies patrol Genovesa, you’ll be enchanted by the character and personality of these birds. Check out these key facts about each kind of Galapagos booby.

Blue-Footed Boobies

The most famous of the three Galapagos boobies, and likely the most photographed, the blue-footed booby is beloved for the males’ vibrant webbed feet and the way they strut them during mating rituals. These boobies get their blue feet from cartenoids derived from their diet of fresh fish. The bluer and brighter the feet, the better nourished the booby. Female boobies take note of these things when evaluating potential partners during mating season. Bluer, healthier male boobies are more likely to find a mate. The courtship ritual, complete with dancing and whistling, is truly a sight to behold. Both males and females take turns incubating their eggs, with the males using their feet to do so as they don’t have a brooding patch.

Red-Footed Boobies

While red-footed boobies are the most numerous of the booby family, they’re also the hardest to see. This is because they live mostly in the outlying islands like Genovesa, far from the Galapagos Islands’ central hubs and popular visitor sites. They’re also smaller than the other boobies. Those Galapagos visitors who are lucky enough to spot one will immediately notice their bright red webbed feet and their pink and blue bills and throat pouches. Depending on their plumage stage, the red-footed booby is either brown or white.

Nazca Boobies

The largest of the Galapagos boobies, Nazca boobies reach a wingspan of six feet. They are usually white, with black borders around their yellow bills that creates the impression of a mask. Nazca boobies are known for laying two eggs within several days of one another. If both hatch, the older chick pushes the younger one out of the nest. If the older egg doesn’t hatch, the mother Nazca booby raises the chick from the second egg instead. They can be found on Espanola, Genovesa, and San Cristobal.

We’d be happy to recommend the perfect itinerary that allows you to see plenty of Galapagos Boobies!