The Sulidae is comprised of the gannets and boobies. They are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish and similar prey. Their body is streamlined which enables efficient diving. Like pelicans, sulids have a well-developed preen gland whose waxy secretions they spread on their feathers for waterproofing. They have stout legs and webbed feet, with the web connecting all four toes. In some species the webs are brightly colored and used in courtship displays. The bill is usually conspicuously colored, long, deep at the base, and pointed. [abstracted from Wikipedia]


Genus Sula

Booby, Brown   Sula leucogaster   Found: Warm waters of North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Australia
Photographed by: 1) New Jersey Birds 2) dFaulder  3) Claudio Timm - Paraná, Brazil  4) Dick Daniels in Puerto Rico


Booby, Masked  Sula dactylatra Found: North America, South America (Galapagos Islands), Australia, Africa, Hawaii
Photographed by: 1, 2) Coracias garrulus - Brazil



Genus Morus

Gannet, Australasian  Morus serrator   Found: Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand
Photographed by: 1) Dysprosia  - Melbourne Zoo  2) Matt Binns - New Zealand 3) Oystercatcher 4) Dick Daniels  
3) Juvenile

Gannet, Cape  Morus capensis   Found: Africa
Photographed by:  1) Vanessa Stephen - Zambia    2) Pim - Namibia  3) Ian White - Zambia