AnimaliaHighest rank in taxonomy. Groups all life into domains: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, etc.IUCN LCInternational Union for Conservation of Nature — the world authority on species extinction risk, using standardized criteria. — Least Concern — widespread and abundant; not at immediate risk of extinction.In ProgressCurrent stage of this record in the editorial review workflow. Recent Sighting
Sula sula
Red-footed Booby
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Detailed Texts Multi-lang
The smallest of all boobies, highly recognizable by its bright, intense red webbed feet and legs. This species is highly polymorphic; the white morph is predominantly white with blackish-brown flight feathers, while the brown morph is entirely greyish-brown. Intermediate morphs with white bodies and brown wings also occur. Regardless of plumage phase, adults always feature a pale blue or pinkish-blue conical bill with a dark tip, surrounded by bare, vibrant pink and violet facial skin at the base. It has a slender body, long pointed wings, and a wedge-shaped tail.
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Anonymous Curator
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Under Review
Last modified by
Julia Trouin
TaxonomyBiological classification ranks placing this species within the tree of life, from Kingdom down to Genus.
PhylumRank below Kingdom. Groups organisms sharing a fundamental body plan (e.g., Chordata = vertebrates and some invertebrates).Chordata
ClassRank below Phylum. Subdivides by structural traits (e.g., Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Insecta).Aves
OrderRank below Class. Groups related families sharing common ancestry (e.g., Carnivora, Primates).Suliformes
FamilyRank below Order. Groups closely related genera (e.g., Felidae = cats, Canidae = dogs).Sulidae
GenusRank just above Species. The first word in the two-part binomial scientific name.Sula
Taxonomic AuthorityThe scientist who first formally described and published this species, followed by the year of publication.(Linnaeus, 1766)
Record Completeness
96%Coming soon
Ecology & StatusHow this species lives: habitat preferences, diet, behavior, population status, and role in its ecosystem.
OriginWhether the species is native (evolved here), endemic (found only here), or introduced by human activity.
Native
Population TrendDirection of change in population size over time: increasing, stable, decreasing, or unknown.
Decreasing
Breeding SeasonTime of year when this species typically reproduces or flowers.
Year Round
Trophic RolePosition in the food chain: producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, decomposer, or parasite.
Carnivore
Recent SightingsWhether this species has been observed in the wild in Costa Rica within recent years.
Yes
Habitat SummaryOverview of the specific ecosystems and environments where this species is found in Costa Rica. Multi-lang
Strictly pelagic outside the nesting season, foraging over deep tropical and subtropical oceans. For breeding, it requires oceanic islands, isolated atolls, and coastal cays that support dense stands of woody vegetation, such as mangroves, beach heliotrope, or scrub forests, as it avoids nesting on bare ground.BehaviourDaily activity patterns, movement, territory use, foraging style, and seasonal behavioral changes. Multi-lang
A highly pelagic, diurnal seabird that travels immense distances from land to forage. They are superb flyers, utilizing a combination of powerful, deep wingbeats and dynamic gliding close to the wave crests. While foraging is solitary or done in small loose groups, they return to massive, noisy communal nesting colonies at night, displaying strong site fidelity.Social ActivitySocial structure: whether the species is solitary, paired, or colonial; hierarchy and communication. Multi-lang
Highly gregarious, nesting in vast communal colonies that can number thousands of pairs. Group coordination is evident during roosting and nesting activities. Courtship involves highly stylized mutual displays, including exaggerated head-shaking, sky-pointing of the bill, and mutual preening to reinforce pair bonds.Feeding GuildWhat the species eats, how it forages or hunts, and its role as a consumer in the food web. Multi-lang
Carnivore (pelagic piscivore/epipelagic plunge-diver specialized in aerial and sub-surface capture of flying fish and squids).Trophic Chain DetailsSpecific interactions in local food webs: prey species, predators, competitors, and scavengers. Multi-lang
Occupies an upper trophic level as a specialized marine carnivore. Its diet consists almost entirely of flying fish (Exocoetidae) and epipelagic squids (Ommastrephidae). Adults have few natural predators at sea, but chicks and unattended eggs are intensely targeted by Magnificent Frigatebirds, gulls, and invasive rats.Reproductive BehaviourMating strategies, courtship displays, nesting or spawning behavior, and parental care. Multi-lang
Monogamous for at least the breeding season, with long-term pair bonds being common. Both sexes participate in building a substantial nest composed of twigs, sticks, and leaves woven into a solid platform located in tree branches or bushes (0.5 to 5 meters above ground). The female lays a single, chalky blue-green egg. Both parents share incubation duties equally over 44 to 46 days, using the warmth of their heavily vascularized webbed feet. The single chick is altricial and requires extensive parental care, fledging after roughly 3 to 4 months.Physical Measures
Length (cm)
66.0 - 77.0 cm
Weight (Grams)
850 g - 1.10 kg
Offspring per cycleTypical number of young (live births, eggs, or seeds) produced by one adult in a single reproductive event or breeding season.1 - 1
Sexual DimorphismObservable physical differences between males and females of the same species (e.g., size, coloration, features).Yes
Lifespan
Sexual MaturityAge at which the individual becomes capable of reproducing for the first time.
4 - 5 Years
Gestation / IncubationDuration from fertilization to birth (mammals) or to hatching (egg-laying species).
44 - 46
Lifespan EstimatedExpected duration of life from birth to natural death under wild conditions.
Males15 - 22 Years
Females15 - 22 Years
Sexual DimorphismPhysical differences in size, coloration, or morphology between males and females of this species.
Males Multi-lang
No plumage color differences across morphs. Displays slight reverse structural dimorphism; adult males are marginally smaller in wingspan and skull dimensions, and average 10-15% lighter in body weight than adult females.
Females Multi-lang
Identical in variable plumage patterns and identical vivid red foot coloration, but structurally larger and consistently heavier in weight metrics than the male counterpart.
Evolutionary AdaptationsInherited traits and behaviors that improve the species' survival and reproduction in its specific environment. Multi-lang
Equipped with strong, fully webbed feet featuring a highly unusual prehensile capability among sulids, allowing the toes to curl and tightly grip branches, enabling a secure arboreal lifestyle and nesting habits.
Possesses exceptional, streamlined hydrodynamic adaptations including narrow, swept-back wings, torch-shaped skull positioning, and an internal system of subcutaneous air sacs that cushion the high-velocity impact of plunge-diving into ocean waters.
Main ThreatsDocumented pressures reducing the population: habitat loss, hunting, disease, climate change, and invasive species. Multi-lang
Severely threatened by the introduction of invasive predators such as feral cats and black rats, which decimate egg clutches and defenseless nestlings. Severe weather patterns linked to climate change, like intense El Niño events, trigger mass starvation by displacing prey schools.
Interesting FactsSurprising or notable facts that highlight what makes this species unique or ecologically important. Multi-lang
Unlike almost all other sulids that lay their eggs in crude scrapes on the ground, the Red-footed Booby uses its agile feet to collect twigs and deliberately constructs a stable, woven platform nest high up in tree canopies or bushes.
They are spectacularly agile aerial hunters, capable of capturing flying fish mid-air before they can splash back into the water. To optimize energy, they often follow pods of hunting dolphins or tuna, which drive prey schools to the surface.