Brown booby

An impressively acrobatic bird that can catch flying fish mid-jump

Danilo da Castro


Brown booby

EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE

An impressively acrobatic bird that can catch flying fish mid-jump

Population >200,000

A remarkable seabird with a distinctive appearance and fascinating behaviors. This species, with its starkly contrasting brown and white plumage and sturdy, yellowish beak, is adapted to a life at sea and is rarely seen far from the ocean.

Inhabiting the tropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Caribbean Sea, the brown booby has a wide geographical range. Their presence around tropical islands and coasts makes them a familiar sight in these regions, often spotted gliding above the water’s surface or perched on cliffs and rocky outcrops.

As adept hunters, brown boobies are piscivores with a diet consisting mainly of small fish and squid. They exhibit remarkable hunting skills, employing a technique known as plunge diving. From heights of up to 50 feet, they dive at high speeds, submerging into the ocean to snatch up prey with their large beak. Their pursuit of flying fish is particularly dramatic, as these prey fish leap from the water to escape underwater predators, only to find themselves in the sights of a Brown Booby.

The social structure of the brown booby is equally intriguing. While they forage alone, they are highly social birds when it comes to breeding. They exhibit monogamous pairing, often with long-lasting pair bonds that can span many breeding seasons. Their loyalty to their partners is a testament to the importance of teamwork in raising their young.

Nest building is a collaborative effort between mates, with nests constructed on the ground using an assortment of materials, including sticks, leaves, and even debris. Their nesting sites are typically located on offshore islets or remote cays, which offer some protection from predators. The female usually lays two eggs, although it is common for only one chick to fledge successfully due to siblicide, where the stronger chick outcompetes the other.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
American Samoa
2018
Anguilla
2018
Breeding
Antigua & Barbuda
2018
Argentina
2018
Aruba
2018
Australia
2018
Breeding
Bahamas
2018
Barbados
2018
Belize
2018
Benin
2018
Non-Breeding
Bermuda
2018
Non-Breeding
Bonaire Sint Eustatius And Saba
2018
Brazil
2018
British Indian T.
2018
Breeding
British Virgin Is.
2018
Brunei
2018
Cambodia
2018
Seasonality Uncertain
Cameroon
2018
Seasonality Uncertain
Canada
2018
Cape Verde
2018
Cayman Islands
2018
Chile
2018
Origin Uncertain
China
2018
Christmas Island
2018
Breeding
Cocos Is. (Keeling)
2018
Breeding
Colombia
2018
Comoros
2018
Cook Islands
2018
Breeding
Costa Rica
2018
Cuba
2018
Curaçao
2018
Côte D’ivoire
2018
Seasonality Uncertain
Djibouti
2018
Dominica
2018
Dominican Republic
2018
East Timor
2018
Non-Breeding
Ecuador
2018
Egypt
2018
El Salvador
2018
Equatorial Guinea
2018
Eritrea
2018
Fiji
2018
French Guiana
2018
French Polynesia
2018
Breeding
French Southern T.
2018
Seasonality Uncertain
Gabon
2018
Gambia
2018
Non-Breeding
Ghana
2018
Non-Breeding
Grenada
2018
Guadeloupe
2018
Guam
2018
Non-Breeding
Guatemala
2018
Guinea-Bissau
2018
Guinea
2018
Breeding
Guyana
2018
Haiti
2018
Honduras
2018
Hong Kong
2018
Non-Breeding
India
2018
Indonesia
2018
Israel
2018
Jamaica
2018
Breeding
Japan
2018
Jordan
2018
Non-Breeding
Kenya
2018
Kiribati
2018
Korea
2018
Seasonality Uncertain
Liberia
2018
Madagascar
2018
Malaysia
2018
Maldives
2018
Marshall Islands
2018
Breeding
Martinique
2018
Mauritania
2018
Mauritius
2018
Seasonality Uncertain
Mayotte
2018
Mexico
2018
Micronesia
2018
Breeding
Montserrat
2018
Morocco
2018
Non-Breeding
Mozambique
2018
Non-Breeding
Myanmar
2018
Nauru
2018
Non-Breeding
New Caledonia
2018
Breeding
New Zealand
2018
Non-Breeding
Nicaragua
2018
Nigeria
2018
Norfolk Island
2018
Seasonality Uncertain
Nort. Mariana Is.
2018
Breeding
North Korea
2018
Seasonality Uncertain
Oman
2018
Non-Breeding
Pakistan
2018
Seasonality Uncertain
Palau
2018
Breeding
Panama
2018
Papua New Guinea
2018
Seasonality Uncertain
Philippines
2018
Breeding
Pitcairn
2018
Seasonality Uncertain
Portugal
2018
Non-Breeding
Puerto Rico
2018
Saint Barthélemy
2018
Seasonality Uncertain
Saint Helena
2018
Saint Lucia
2018
Saint Martin
2018
French Part
Saint Vincent
2018
Samoa
2018
Saudi Arabia
2018
Senegal
2018
Non-Breeding
Seychelles
2018
Sierra Leone
2018
Non-Breeding
Singapore
2018
Sint Maarten
2018
Dutch Part
Solomon Islands
2018
Breeding
Somalia
2018
South Africa
2018
Non-Breeding
Spain
2018
Non-Breeding
Sri Lanka
2018
St. Kitts & Nevis
2018
Sudan
2018
Suriname
2018
São Tomé & Príncipe
2018
Breeding
Taiwan
2018
Tanzania
2018
Seasonality Uncertain
Thailand
2018
Togo
2018
Vagrant
Tokelau
2018
Seasonality Uncertain
Tonga
2018
Breeding
Trinidad & Tobago
2018
Turks & Caicos
2018
Breeding
Tuvalu
2018
Seasonality Uncertain
UAE
2018
Non-Breeding
US Minor Is.
2018
Breeding
US Virgin Islands
2018
United States
2018
Breeding: Hawaiian Is.
Uruguay
2018
Vagrant
Vanuatu
2018
Breeding
Venezuela
2018
Vietnam
2018
Wallis & Futuna
2018
Breeding
Yemen
2018

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Get to know me

Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Flock

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No