Red-footed Booby

Sula sula

Beak

—

Feet

—

Crest

No crest

Breeds on Maldives and Lakshadweep?; visitor to coastal waters. Small and graceful booby. White, brown and intermediate morphs occur; white morph most likely to be encountered in Indian Ocean. Adult white morph from adult Masked by smaller size, variable yellow wash on crown and hind neck. bluish bill. lack of black mask (but does show black on chin). and red legs and feet; in flight. also by black carpal patch on underwing. white tail, and white tertials (black trailing edge does not reach body). Brown morph is similar in plumage to juvenile, but has red legs, blue-grey bill and pinkish facial skin. Ot her morphs occur with white head and neck and/or white rump, tail and undertail - coverts. Juvenile is largely brown with greyish legs; from juvenile Brown Booby by dark underwing and dark bill. Immature variable, with pale head, neck and body, variable breast band, and brown mottling on upperbody and upperwing-coverts. Flight and feeding habits are similar to those of Masked. Gregarious; occurs in small groups or flocks at good feeding areas. Attracted to ships, and perches on rigging or masts. Partly nocturnal. Pelagic.