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Blue-footed Booby
Sula nebouxii
The Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) is a pelagic species that breeds on islands off the Pacific coast of Central and South America. The first 3 shots shown here were all taken in July, 2003, on the Galapagos Islands where the species is very common. There is certainly no question about how this bird earned its common name! All the photos were digital captures with a Canon EOS 10D and an EF 70-200 mm F/2.8 L IS lens. Scroll down for more images.
The next 16 images were taken at various locations in the Galapagos Islands in July, 2007. These shots were all taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6 L IS lens. The shot shown here shows a parent brooding two tiny chicks.
A Blue-footed Booby in a plunge dive. These birds can plunge to many feet under the water when trying to catch fish.
The shot shown here shows a juvenile Blue-footed Booby.
Another younger booby.
A young booby tries to master the art of landing after a short flight.

The next 10 images of Blue-footed Boobies were taken in August, 2010 in the Galapagos Islands. The adult Blue-footed Booby in flight here was at Hood Island with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens.
The adult with a chick on the right was on Hood Island. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens.
The pair in courtship was also on Hood Island and was shot with the same gear as the previous shots.
The next two images show a wild display of plunge-diving by a flock of Blue-footed Boobies off the coast of Isabela Island in the Galapagos Islands. More than 200 birds were working a school of fish and when the flock started hitting the water it seemed almost as if automatic weapons fire was being aimed at the water's surface. It was quite a spectacle and went on for several hours!
The next four shots show various Blue-footed Boobies on Isabela Island in the Galapagos in August, 2010. All these were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens.
An adult and immature bird.
A sunset shot of plunge diving Blue-footed Boobies.