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Brown Booby

Sula leucogaster

Least Concern (IUCN Red List)Boobies and Gannets
Brown Booby, photographed by Cole Marshall

Photo: Cole Marshall · Unsplash · Unsplash License (licence)

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About the Brown Booby

Large seabird of inshore and offshore waters in tropical regions around the globe. Head, neck, and upperparts are solidly brown, except for adult males from Mexican Pacific Coast populations which have a whitish head and often an entirely whitish neck. Adult has a well-demarcated white belly and immature has a variably mottled brown belly that rarely looks solidly brown. Compare with other boobies and with juvenile Northern Gannet. Often seen from beaches, sometimes just beyond the breakers. Usually plunge-dives from a shallow angle, much closer to the water than Blue-footed Booby. Breeds in colonies on offshore islands, nesting on the ground. Recently showing up more regularly as a vagrant on inland lakes and reservoirs in the U.S. and Canada, and further north along the Atlantic coast.

Species account: eBird.org, fetched 2025-12-26 · How these pages are made

Where it has been recorded

Recorded in 143 of the 253 countries we have eBird lists for. Each opens that country's checklist.

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