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.
What do blue footed boobies eat that make their feet blue?
Food. 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.
Where can you see a blue footed boobie?
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.
Can you have a blue-footed booby as a pet?
No, these birds do not make good pets. In most places it is illegal to own a blue footed booby as a pet Providing fresh fish can be costly and difficult, and they are extremely messy and smelly birds!.
How long does a blue-footed booby live?
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.
Who eats the blue-footed booby?
Predation. On the Galápagos Islands, the only predator of Blue-footed Boobies is the
galapagos hawk
(Buteo galapagoensis), the only diurnal bird of prey of the islands.
Are blue-footed booby birds extinct?
Currently, blue-footed boobies are listed as a species of the least concern for extinction ; however, populations in the Galapagos islands say otherwise.
What are a group 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.
What is unique about the blue-footed booby?
1 – Their Feet Turn Blue when they are Mature Blue-footed boobies aren’t born with blue feet! And unlike marine iguanas, which may get their color from what they eat – the blue-footed booby bird does not eat blue food to get their foot color… although diet does play a partial role!.
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
dodos extinct
?
The dodo was extinct by 1681 , the Réunion solitaire by 1746, and the Rodrigues solitaire by about 1790. The dodo is frequently cited as one of the most well-known examples of human-induced extinction and also serves as a symbol of obsolescence with respect to human technological progress.
Where can I see booby birds?
Where to see them: North Seymour is one of the Galapagos’ best seabird breeding grounds, with blue-footed boobies occurring at high frequency. Large breeding populations can also be found on many other islands south of the equator – including Espanola, Fernandina, Floreana, Isabela, Pinzon, and Santa Cruz.
Sources
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/facts/blue-footed-booby
9 Blue Footed Booby Facts: Unofficial Mascot of the Galapagos Islands
https://www.galapatours.com/faq/what-makes-the-blue-footed-booby-s-feet-blue-