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, Blue-footed Sula nebouxii   Found: North America, South America, other Pacific Islands, Ecuador
Photographed by: 1, 4, 6, 7) Dick Daniels - Galapagos Islands   2, 3, 8) Dick - Galapagos Islands
5) Juvenile



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 - Puerto Rico
    5) Dick - Kauai, Hawaii
5) From left to right: 2 Brown Boobies and a Great Frigatebird pursuing a Red-footy Booby that probably has a fish.



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


Booby, Nazca Sula granti Found: South America (Galapagos Islands)
Photographed by: 1) Putneymark - Espanola, Galapagos Islands  2) Soler97


Booby, Red-Footed Sula sula Found: North America, South America (Galapagos Islands), Asia, Australia
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Hawaii    4) Dick - Hawaii