Brown Booby

Sula leucogaster

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Brief #

Head and upper body is dark brown to black plumage, with the remainder being white.

Synonyms #

  • Piquero pardo (Spanish)
  • Mascato pardo (Galician)

Red List Status #

The Brown Booby is unlikely to become extinct in the near future.
Find out more about IUCN's Red List program here

Description #

The booby's head and upper body (back) is covered in dark brown to black plumage, with the remainder (belly) being a contrasting white. The bare part colours vary geographically, but not seasonally. The species also displays sexual dimorphism of the bare part colours, the males having a blue orbital ring, as opposed to the yellow orbital ring of the female. Unlike other species of sulid the juvenile plumage already resembles that of the adult. They are gray-brown with darkening on the head, upper surfaces of the wings and tail, while the lower breast and underpart plumages are heavily flecked brown on white.

Measurements #

Length: 75 - 80 cm
Wingspan: 1.4 - 1.5 m
Weight: 1 - 1.3 kg