# Blue-footed Booby (*Sula nebouxii*)

> The blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) is a plunge-diving seabird of Pacific coasts from Mexico to Peru, famous for sky-blue feet used in courtship stomping displays. Adults weigh about 1.5 kg, nest on rocky islands including the Galápagos, and are listed Least Concern — though El Niño years crash local breeding success when fish plunge deeper.

- **Category:** Bird
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Pacific coasts from Mexico to Peru, with famous colonies in the Galápagos.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/blue-footed-booby/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Aves
- **Order:** Suliformes
- **Family:** Sulidae
- **Genus:** Sula

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Sula nebouxii |
| Diet | Carnivore (fish) |
| Habitat | Coastal waters and rocky islands |
| Lifespan | Around 15 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity). |
| Weight | About 1.5 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary). |
| Top speed | Up to roughly 80 km/h when moving at speed. |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Turquoise feet and plunge dives

Foot colour intensity correlates with health and mating success. Birds fold wings and plunge from height to catch fish. Females are larger than males and often have darker pupils.

## Schooling fish offshore

Diet is fish such as sardines and anchovies taken by plunge-diving in coastal upwellings. Across its range it is tied to coastal waters and rocky islands, and field accounts emphasise this species’ distinctive ecology rather than generic habitat labels.

## Mexico to Peru — Galápagos icon

Pacific coasts from Mexico to Peru, with celebrated colonies in the Galápagos Islands on rocky shores. Across its range it is tied to coastal waters and rocky islands, and field accounts emphasise this species’ distinctive ecology rather than generic habitat labels.

## El Niño boom and bust

Least Concern overall, yet warm El Niño events push prey deep or away, causing breeding failures in Galápagos and elsewhere. Colony protection from introduced predators remains important.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why are blue-footed boobies' feet blue?

Carotenoid pigments from their fish diet colour the feet; brighter feet signal better condition to mates.

### How do blue-footed boobies hunt?

They plunge-dive from the air into schools of fish (Sula nebouxii; diet: Carnivore (fish)).

### Where do blue-footed boobies nest?

On rocky islands and coasts of the eastern Pacific, including famous Galápagos colonies.

### Do males and females look different?

Females are larger and often show differently coloured pupils; both have blue feet.

### How does El Niño affect them?

Reduced surface fish during warm events can cause widespread breeding failure.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/blue-footed-booby/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.