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Geographic
range: Neotropical, Oceanic Islands: The blue-footed booby
breeds on several arid islands off the western coasts of tropical
America, Mexico, and northern South America (Peru). In Mexico this
species breeds mainly on islands in Gulf of California and south to
Nayarit.
Physical characteristics: Large tropical
seabird with bright blue webbed feet and bluish-grey facial skin.
The head of the bird is a pale cinnamon-brown with dense white streaks.
Wings are long, brown and pointed reaching up to 150 cm in span. The
lower breast , central tail feathers, and under parts are white. Its
blue tapered bill has serrated edges that enables the bird to tightly
grasp fish.
Food habits: The diet of the blue-footed
booby consists of fish. When gliding over the surface the water, the
bird keeps its beak at a downward angle, watching for fish. The species
is known for its spectacular dives from heights of up to 80 feet.
Barely making a splash when hitting the water, the bird resurfaces,
frequently with a fish. Unique among other boobies, the blue footed
booby can dive below the water from a surface swimming position to
catch fish. Despite its habit of feeding alone, the blue-footed booby
cooperate in flocks to hunt fish. When one bird in the flock spots
a fish, it gives a whistle to alert the others. Then the rest of the
flock follows the first diving, into the water with perfectly synchronized
movements. Interestingly, the male and the female are adapted for
catching prey of different sizes. The male, being smaller, performs
shallow dives, while the heavier female is able to make deeper dives
farther offshore.
Reproduction: The blue-footed booby
breeds year round. Breeding begins with elaborate courtship displays
by the male. He flies around his territory, flaunting his blue feet
in an exaggerated high-stepping walk, and presents pieces of nest
material to the female. After making a courtship flight, the male
flashes his feet at the female as he lands. Then each bird tilts its
bill up towards the sky and the male gives a piercing whistle. The
female responds with groaning calls, and mating follows shortly afterwards.
The female lays her eggs in a shallow depression on flat ground. Clutch
sizes vary from two to three eggs. Unlike most birds, the blue-footed
booby lacks brooding patches (patches of bare skin that transmit heat
to the eggs). As a result, the booby uses its webbed feet, which have
an increased blood supply, to incubate the eggs. When the eggs begin
to hatch, the female supports them on the top of her feet. The young
remain on her feet for an entire month. Both parents feed the chicks
by regurgitating fish and allowing the chick to remove it from their
bills. The chicks are fed continuously, and if there is a food shortage,
the largest chick is be given the food.
Behavior: The blue-footed booby feeds
singly or in a group. Nesting birds defend their small territories,
which results in a regular distribution of nests on the breeding grounds.
Habitat: Arid islands in the Pacific
ocean. |
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