Wildlife of the Galapagos Islands Photo Gallery

South America Travel

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	Boobies are a member of the penguin family and are the most common species of booby in the Galapagos. Boobies have tapered bodies, long pointed wings and long tails. They are distinguished by their bright feet. They are blue-footed, red-footed or masked. Blue-footed and masked boobies are larger than red-footed ones.
	Boobies dive into the ocean to feed on squid and fish. Unlike other diving birds, they breathe through their mouths. Their breathing holes or nostrils close as they dive deep.
	Blue-footed boobies lay one or two eggs, but one chick will normally peck the other to death. They breed in large colonies along the ground, often returning to the same nest each year. Boobies are monogamous and both parents share in the rearing process.
	Blue-footed boobies during courtship. Their ritual dance is characterized by their flashing feet, heads and bills upraised and crooked wings.
	Masked boobies nest along the cliffs on most of the Galapagos islands where the Galapagos hawk does not fly.
	Masked boobies are all white except for the black patches on the tail and wings and around the eyes. Red-footed boobies resemble the masked booby when it is white. More common in the islands is the brown boobie with the bright red feet.