The causal reason is that
carotenoid pigments
, which the boobies get through their diet, are concentrated in their feet, making them appear blue in colour The concentration of these pigments determines the strength of the colour of the feet, with higher concentrations making the feet a more intense colour of blue.
Where can you find blue-footed booby?
Blue-footed Boobies nest on islands in the tropical eastern Pacific Though thousands live in Mexico’s Gulf of California, finding them in the United States or Canada is challenging.
How old are blue-footed boobies?
Lifespan & Reproduction. In the wild, the blue-footed booby can live up to 17 years due to a lack of predators and relatively isolated habitats. Females begin breeding at 1-6 years of age and males slightly later at 2-6 years of age.
What do blue-footed boobie eat?
Blue-footed Boobies eat mostly fish and squid Anchovies, sardines, mackerel, flying fish, and other small fish form most of the diet; the larger female boobies take larger fish, on average, than males and can dive more deeply than males. Blue-footed Boobies catch fish by diving during daylight hours.
How does a female blue-footed booby choose a mate?
How does a female blue-footed booby choose a mate? Females often choose a mate with the brightest feet ; the bluer the feet, the more attractive the mate.
How many blue-footed boobies are left in the world?
Around 80,000 blue-footed boobies are currently left in the world. The majority of these
breeding pairs nest
in the Galapagos Islands and their population is quite stable.
Are blue-footed boobies friendly?
Blue footed boobies are tame and docile around humans.
Do blue-footed boobies mate for life?
Once a match is made, the pair will often remain together for life The female lays two to three eggs, which both parents take turns to incubate whilst the other keeps watch for predators. Boobies lack a brood patch, instead using their large feet to keep the eggs warm.
Do blue-footed boobies migrate?
Migration. Not migratory but occasionally prone to movements beyond
typical range
.
What is a flock of boobies called?
A group of boobies is known as a “hatch,” “trap,” or “congress.” 6. Blue-footed boobies have a special air sac in their skulls to protect their brains.
Are there boobies in California?
The largest populations of blue-footed boobies live on the Galapagos Islands. Blue-footed boobies, the large seabirds with bright seafoam-blue webbed feet, have suddenly expanded their range in California, and bird watchers reported seeing boobies this week in Santa Cruz, Capitola and Monterey.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-footed_booby
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/140425-galapagos-blue-footed-booby-endangered-birds-science-animals