Bird guideRed-footed Booby

They perform elaborate greeting rituals, including harsh squawks and the male's display of his blue throat, also including short dances.

⚠️Not listed
🍃Indigenous: Red-Legged Gannet, Red-Footed Gannet

At a glance

FamilyBoobies and Gannets
SizeLarge
RarityUncommon
HabitatNests on offshore islands (usually in trees and bushes, unlike other boobies, which nest on the ground).
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from October to November.

Sounds

Sound sample
0:000:00
Recorded by Barry Edmonston

Range map

Range map

200approx hotspots
1640approx records
3states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Adult plumage is variable, but all have bright red feet and colorful 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. Immatures of all types are brown overall with dull pinkish feet. Looks smaller and more slender than other boobies, with more crooked wings.

Behavior

Nests on offshore islands (usually in trees and bushes, unlike other boobies, which nest on the ground).

Regional timing

Northern Territory
Peak: February4 records
Queensland
Peak: October to November582 records
New South Wales
Peak: February46 records
Western Australia
Peak: September2 records
Victoria
Peak: February3 records

Commonly confused with

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