Bird
Red-footed Booby
Sula sulaAlso known as Red-legged Booby
Red-footed boobies are the smallest members of the booby family, distinguished by their vivid coral-red webbed feet and prehensile toes that enable them to perch and nest securely in coastal trees and shrubs. They exhibit striking plumage polymorphism, occurring in white, brown, and intermediate morphs that often breed together within the same colonies. Highly pelagic hunters, they forage far out to sea, capturing flying fish mid-leap or diving into tropical waters with acrobatic precision.
PelagicColonialTropical
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyFlying fish, Squid, Mackerel scad
Predators
- Feral cat
- Black rat
- Great frigatebird
ThreatsInvasive predators on nesting islands, marine heatwaves, and fishery bycatch
HabitatsTropical open oceans, coral atolls, and coastal mangrove or shrub islands
Life span20–25 years
Classification
- OrderSuliformes
- FamilySulidae
- GenusSula
- SpeciesSula sula
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Look for colonial tree nests filled with pale downy chicks and adults showing bright red feet and pale blue beaks.
- Support conservation
- Stay strictly on designated boardwalks or paths, maintain distance from nesting trees, and avoid sudden movements.
Responsible observation
- Colony Distance: Keep at least ten meters away from nesting shrubs to avoid causing brooding parents to flush.
- Look for Perches: Scan coastal mangroves and tree canopies rather than the sand when searching for resting birds.
- Watch the Wake: Look alongside boat bows in tropical open waters where individuals chase flying fish stirred up by the hull.
Competitor (c) James Weaver, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by James Weaver · cc-by
Image unavailablePrey 
Close Relative Danilo da Castro / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Mikko Koponen, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Forest & Kim Starr / CC BY 3.0 · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Juan Carlos Caicedo Hernández, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Juan Carlos Caicedo Hernández · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.