Red-footed Booby

Large seabird of offshore tropical waters, not seen from mainland. Nests on offshore islands (usually in trees and bushes, unlike other boobies, which nest on the ground). Adult plumage is variable, but all have bright red feet and colourful bill and face; some have wholly brown plumage, others are white with a black trailing edge to the wings; the tail can be black or white. Immature of all types are brown overall with dull pinkish feet. Red-footed boobies are slender gannet-like birds that occur in a range of plumages. Like other members of the family, they have a long conical bill, slender neck, long narrow wings, and long pointed tail. White morph birds are mainly white with light buff or orange on the head, and black primaries and secondaries (the main flight feathers on the wing), plus black coverts. There is a diagnostic black patch near the carpal joint on the underwing. Brown morph birds are mid-brown all over, with darker flight feathers. A common intermediate morph is mid-brown with a white rump and tail. Birds may be any shade between mid-brown and white, and are never as dark as the chocolate brown plumage of brown boobies. It is the only booby that can have a white tail (though it can be black in the Galapagos subspecies, and is dark in the darkest brown morph birds). All morphs have pale blue bills with pink base, pink facial skin, and bright red feet and legs. Females are slightly larger than males. Juveniles are brown or grey-brown, streaked darker, and are usually paler below, with grey or greyish-pink legs and feet. Birds become paler with age, until adult plumage and bare-part coloration is attained when about 2.5 years old.