What is surprising about the masked booby babies?

What kind of bird is a masked booby?

The masked booby (Sula dactylatra) is a large seabird of the booby family, Sulidae. First described by French naturalist René-Primevère Lesson in 1831, the masked booby is one of six species of booby in the genus Sula.

What does a booby bird look like?

These lanky seabirds are snowy white like gannets, but with a blackish “mask” of skin at the base of the bill, as well as more extensive black in the flight feathers. The name “booby” derives from the Spanish bobo (for “fool”), possibly because of their ungainly courtship dances.

Is there a nesting record of the masked booby?

“A nesting record of the Masked Booby from Guerrero, Southern Mexico”. Western Birds. 38: 229–231. ^ Mancini, P.L.; Serafini, P.P.; Bugoni, L. (2016). “Breeding seabird populations in Brazilian oceanic islands: historical review, update and a call for census standardization”.

What kind of bird is a blue faced booby?

The masked booby ( Sula dactylatra ), also called the masked gannet or the blue-faced booby, is a large seabird of the booby and gannet family, Sulidae. First described by the French naturalist René-Primevère Lesson in 1831, the masked booby is one of six species of booby in the genus Sula.

What does a booby bird look like with a mask?

Masked Booby – Finally, the masked Booby has clean white plumage, accented with black feathers on their wings, tail, and face. Their namesake mask is a ring of black feathers, which runs along the base of their beak.

Why don’t masked boobies nest?

Because Masked Boobies reach adulthood at age 4 or older, younger birds that return to colonies tend to avoid nesting areas, instead hanging out in “clubs.” Back to top

How does the masked booby reproduce?

Territorial when breeding, the masked booby performs agonistic displays to defend its nest. Potential and mated pairs engage in courtship and greeting displays. The female lays two chalky white eggs in a shallow depression on flat ground away from vegetation. The chicks are born featherless, but are soon covered in white down.

How does a booby defend its nest?

Territorial when breeding, the masked booby performs agonistic displays to defend its nest. Potential and mated pairs engage in courtship and greeting displays. The female lays two chalky white eggs in a shallow depression on flat ground away from vegetation.

How does the blue-footed booby bird catch fish?

Its blue tapered bill has serrated edges that enables the bird to tightly grasp fish. The Blue-footed Booby bird is a little under three feet long and its wingspan is about five feet. The Blue-footed Booby bird plunges head first into the ocean, with its wings partly folded, to catch fish.

What kind of mask does a Boobie have?

Their namesake mask is a ring of black feathers, which runs along the base of their beak. Like many other species of seabirds, Boobies generally live over the open ocean, and come ashore primarily to breed.

What does an immature bird look like?

Immature birds look similar to adults but have a dingy brown belly. Plunge-dives into the ocean, sweeping its wings backward and slicing through the water like an arrow.

How do birds defend themselves from predators?

Ground birds such as plovers may use broken wing or rodent run displays to distract predators from nests. Many species attack predators or apparent predators near their nests. Kingbirds attack other birds that come too close. In North America, northern mockingbirds, blue jays, and Arctic terns can peck hard enough to draw blood.

Do boobies attack nestlings?

Nestlings can also be attacked by other species of booby, such as Nazca Booby, that nest in the vicinity. When foraging, Blue-footed Boobies execute swift dives, after which they mostly return immediately to the water’s surface, but they also can swim using their wings underwater, in pursuit of prey.

How many nests does a booby have?

A booby may use and defend two or three nesting sites, which consist of bare black lava in small divots in the ground, until they develop a preference for one a few weeks before the eggs are laid. These nests are created as parts of large colonies.

Where does the blue-footed booby make its nest?

The Blue-footed Booby makes no nest, but lays its eggs on bare ground. The incubating birds defecate while on the nest, and the eggs become surrounded by a circular wall of excrement. Looking for ID Help? Get Instant ID help for 650+ North American birds.

How did the blue footed booby get its name?

The other part of the name—booby—is reportedly taken from the Spanish for “stupid,” (“bobo”) and refers to these birds’ tameness around people. Like its North Atlantic relative the Northern Gannet, Blue-footed Boobies catch fish in spectacular dives from high in the air.

How big is the blue footed booby bird?

The Blue-footed Booby bird is a little under three feet long and its wingspan is about five feet. The Blue-footed Booby bird plunges head first into the ocean, with its wings partly folded, to catch fish. It even catches flying fish when they are still in the air.

How does a blue footed booby hatch eggs?

As the eggs start to hatch, the parents will rest the eggs on top of their feet. The male Blue-footed Booby bird brings food back to the nest for the female Blue-footed Booby bird and the chicks. The chicks take regurgitated fish from their parents bills.

What does the masked booby do at sea?

The Masked Booby plunges head first into the ocean to catch flying fish and squid. It can dive from distances of over 90 feet. The Masked Booby is silent at sea, but has a reedy whistling greeting call at the nesting colonies.

What does a masked booby sound like?

The Masked Booby is silent at sea, but has a reedy whistling greeting call at the nesting colonies. While on the breeding grounds, these birds display a wide range of hissing and quacking notes.