BOOBY 2/3 - Brown Booby (2026 lifer 602/688) September 2026

Nestling at left 

A colony of Brown Booby of about 30-50 pairs reside on the rocky face of Pulau Perak. In September a few nestling were sighted in their whitish feathers.

They are large seabird of inshore and offshore waters in tropical regions of the Atlantic, Indian, and western Pacific Oceans. Feeds primarily on small schooling fish such as flying fish, sardines, and anchovies, and also takes squid. Hunts by plunge-diving from low to moderate heights and may pursue prey underwater with strong kicks. Often forages in flocks, especially where predatory fish drive prey to the surface. Will follow fishing vessels and exploit baitfish or discards when available.

The booby's head and upper body (back) is covered in dark brown to blackish plumage, with the remainder (belly) being a contrasting white. The bare-part colours vary geographically, but not seasonally. The species also displays sexual dimorphism of the bare part colours, the males having a blue orbital ring, as opposed to the yellow orbital ring of the female.

Female boobies reach about 80 centimetres (31 in) in length; their wingspans measure up to 150 cm (4.9 ft), and they can weigh up to 1,300 g (2.9 lb). Male boobies reach about 75 centimetres (30 in) in length; their wingspans measure up to 140 cm (4.6 ft), and they can weigh up to 1,000 g (2.2 lb).

Unlike other species of sulid, the juvenile plumage already resembles that of the adult. They are grey brown with darkening on the head, upper surfaces of the wings and tail, while the lower breast and underpart plumages are heavily flecked brown on white.

Their beaks are quite sharp and contain jagged edges. They have fairly short wings resulting in a fast flap rate, but long, tapered tails. While these birds are typically silent, they occasionally make grunting or quacking sounds.