The blue footed bird found in Mexico is known as the blue-footed booby. This distinctive seabird gets its name from its brilliant blue feet. The blue-footed booby is a large seabird that can grow up to 30 inches tall with a wingspan of up to 5 feet. Despite its clumsiness on land, the blue-footed booby is an expert diver and fisher, using its powerful wings to plunge into the ocean after fish. Its bright blue feet play an important role in mating rituals, as male blue-footed boobies show off their feet to attract females.
Quick Facts on the Blue-Footed Booby
- Species Name: Sula nebouxii
- Range: Pacific Coast of Mexico and Central/South America
- Habitat: Coastal islands for nesting, open ocean for feeding
- Diet: Squid and fish like anchovies, sardines, mackerel
- Key Features: Large size, long wings, bright blue feet
Physical Description
The blue-footed booby is a large seabird with long, tapered wings and a sturdy, compact body. Adult boobies measure 25-32 inches in length and have a wingspan between 3.3-5.2 feet. Male and female boobies have identical plumage. Their upperparts are brownish-grey while their neck and head are buff-colored or white. Their most distinctive feature is their bright blue feet. The blue coloration of their feet results from carotenoid pigments obtained from their fish diet.
Colorful Face and Feet
The blue-footed booby has a pale teardrop shaped face patch surrounding its eyes. This patch varies from white to light tan or yellowish. Their long sturdy beak is bluish-grey. Their iconic feet range from pale blue to turquoise blue, increasing in intensity during mating season. Their feet help regulate their body temperature and play a role in mating displays.
Plumage
Adult blue-footed boobies have greyish-brown upperparts and wings contrasting with their snowy white underside and belly. Their tail is short and wedge-shaped. Blue-footed booby chicks are born with grey downy feathers. At around 3 months, juvenile boobies gain their first flight feathers and resemble adults, although their feet remain pale grey until they fledge.
Range and Habitat
The blue-footed booby resides along the Pacific coasts of Mexico, Central and South America. Their breeding colonies extend from the Gulf of California down to Peru and Chile. They can also be found on the Galapagos Islands. Blue-footed boobies inhabit tropical and subtropical waters typically ranging in temperature from 75-86°F.
Coastal Islands
Blue-footed boobies nest on barren coastal islands and rocky outcroppings. They prefer islands with little vegetation and flat, rocky surfaces near cliff edges or steep slopes. These island habitats provide safe nesting sites and easy take-off access for diving into the ocean.
Open Ocean
While nesting, blue-footed boobies forage far out at sea searching for fish. They favor areas with upwellings that bring nutrients and bait fish close to the surface. Blue-footed boobies can venture more than 100 km offshore while hunting.
Diet and Hunting
Blue-footed boobies are piscivores, meaning they primarily eat fish. They hunt by diving into the ocean from heights up to 100 feet and pursue fish underwater using their wings for propulsion. Their diet consists mainly of small schooling fish like sardines, anchovies and mackerel. They also eat squid and flying fish. Blue-footed boobies hunt singly, not in flocks, and often submerge completely when diving.
Plunge Diving
The blue-footed booby’s signature hunting style is plunge diving. They scan the ocean from flight, then fold their wings back and plummet down, piercing the surface at speeds over 60 mph. They can dive up to depths around 30-40 feet to pursue prey. Their streamlined bodies and aerial maneuverability make them adept plunge divers.
Fishing Methods
Blue-footed boobies use a variety of fishing techniques. They may spot prey from the air, then gradually descend feet-first to reach the fish. Or they may dive straight down from higher altitudes. Sometimes they submerge completely underwater to chase escaping fish. Their powerful wings enable underwater pursuit of fast prey like mahi-mahi.
Mating and Reproduction
Blue-footed boobies are long-lived, monogamous birds that mate for life. Their elaborate mating rituals feature prominently displayed bright blue feet. Breeding pairs engage in sky-pointing, gift-giving and high-stepping dances to attract mates and reinforce social bonds.
Mating Rituals and Displays
Male and female blue-footed boobies perform dramatic mating displays. Males flaunt their electric blue feet, pointing them skywards and whistling. Females select mates based on foot color intensity. Pairs also engage in high-stepping dances, gift-giving of nest materials and synchronized sky-pointing. These rituals strengthen pair bonding.
Breeding and Nesting
Breeding season varies by location, but typically peaks from January-March and June-August. Blue-footed boobies nest on the ground in dense colonies of up to several thousand pairs. The female lays 1-3 eggs in a scrape nest lined with guano and debris. Parents take turns incubating eggs for around 41 days until hatching. Chicks fledge at 3-4 months old.
Conservation Status
The global population of blue-footed boobies is estimated between 200,000-300,000 breeding pairs. Their widespread range offers some protection, but local threats exist. Blue-footed boobies are rated as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List due to their stable overall population trend.
Threats and Declines
El Niño events disrupt the blue-footed booby’s food supply, leading to temporary population declines. Some breeding colonies have been impacted by human disturbance, introduced predators and pollution. Fisheries may reduce prey availability in some areas.
Protected Areas
Several key breeding sites for blue-footed boobies are protected, including the Galapagos Islands, Gulf of California islands and Peru’s Pacific coast islands and guano reserves. Maintaining protections and limiting disruptions will benefit future booby populations.
Fun Facts About Blue-Footed Boobies
- Blue-footed booby parents take turns shading chicks from the sun – a behavior called parasolling.
- Their blue feet radiate heat, helping regulate their body temperature.
- They are powerful fliers with a cruising airspeed around 36 mph.
- Courtship can involve the male offering nest materials or regurgitated food gifts.
- Blue-footed booby chicks do “broken wing” displays to beg for food from parents.
Conclusion
With its stunning blue feet and clownish charm, the blue-footed booby stands out among seabirds. While clumsy on land, it transforms into a swift diver and underwater hunter within the ocean. This iconic species of Mexico’s Pacific coasts serves as an indicator of marine ecosystem health. Maintaining protections for its nesting colonies and food supply will ensure the blue-footed booby continues dazzling us with its amazing blue feet.
