The red-footed booby (Sula sula) is the smallest of the three booby species that breed in Galápagos, but also the most abundant. Unlike the blue-footed booby and the Nazca booby, which nest on the ground, this species builds its nests in trees and shrubs, an adaptation that gives it a particularly close connection with the islands’ vegetation.
Its bright red feet contrast with a pale blue bill and a face marked by pinkish and bluish tones. It also occurs in different plumage forms: in Galápagos, brown-bodied individuals are especially common, although white birds with dark wings can also be seen. This variation means that two birds of the same species can look surprisingly different.
It is a highly oceanic species. Red-footed boobies travel long distances offshore to feed on fish and squid, capturing them through rapid descents and plunge dives from the air. This open-ocean lifestyle helps explain why, despite being abundant, they are often less visible to visitors than other boobies.
Genovesa supports one of the major colonies Galápagos, where thousands of birds occupy trees and shrubs. The female usually lays a single egg, and both parents take part in incubation and caring for the chick. Like other boobies, they use their highly vascularized feet to transfer warmth to the egg during incubation.
Between branches, wind, and open sea, the red-footed booby breaks the classic image of a seabird nesting on bare rock: it is an ocean traveler that returns to the trees to begin a new generation.
