Boobies and Gannets

Large, streamlined seabirds, Boobies and Gannets are aerial hunters that plunge like spears into schools of fish near the surface. They have long, thick necks and large pale bills that come to a sharp point. Northern Gannets and Masked Boobies are mostly white with black wings. Brown Boobies are primarily dark brown with white bellies. Young birds of all three species are dark brown or gray mottled with varying amounts of white.

Size:
15 to 37 inch (0.381 to 0.9398 meter) length, 37 to 72 inch (0.9398 to 1.8288 meter) wingspan

Where they live:
Boobies live mainly in tropical oceans and are usually seen off our southern coasts. Northern Gannets are seen along the Atlantic Coast and occasionally follow schools of fish near the shore. Most species nest in colonies on inaccessible cliffs or islands.

What they eat:
Schooling fish captured by dramatic plunging dives, sometimes from great height. When prey is sighted, the bird drops headfirst toward the surface, folding its wings back along its body before entering the water.

Sounds:
Generally quiet away from the nesting grounds.

Etc.:
Both boobies and gannets engage in elaborate courtship displays that include bowing, head-shaking, bill touching, and mutual preening. Boobies have colorful, fully webbed feet that are often used like semaphore flags during these rituals.