Northern red-footed booby (SciiFii)

The northern red-footed booby (Sula americanum) is a species of large seabird of the booby family, Sulidae, that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the coastlines of North America to help boost biodiversity. The closest living relative of the northern red-footed booby is the southern red-footed booby (Sula sula). The red-footed booby is one of the smallest member of the booby and gannet family at about 70 cm (28 inches) in length and with a wingspan of up to 152 cm (60 inches). The average weight of the adults from mainland North America is 837 grams (1.845 lb). It has red legs, and its bill and throat pouch are coloured pink and blue. This species has several morphs. In the white morph the plumage is mostly white (the head often tinged yellowish) and the flight feathers are black. The black-tailed white morph is similar, but with a black tail, and can easily be confused with the Nazca and masked boobies. The brown morph is overall brown. The white-tailed brown morph is similar, but has a white belly, rump, and tail. The white-headed and white-tailed brown morph has a mostly white body, tail and head, and brown wings and back. The morphs commonly breed together, but in most regions one or two morphs predominates; for example, at the Channel Islands, most belong to the brown morph, though the white morph also occurs. The sexes are similar, and juveniles are brownish with darker wings, and pale pinkish legs, while chicks are covered in dense white down. Northern red-footed boobies dive into the ocean at high speeds to catch prey. They mainly eat small fish or squid which gather in groups near the surface. This species breeds either on the mainland North America or on islands off the coasts of North America. When not breeding it spends most of the time at sea, and is therefore rarely seen away from breeding colonies. It nests in large colonies, laying one or two chalky blue egg in a stick nest, which is incubated by both adults for 44–46 days. The nest is usually placed in a tree or bush, but rarely it may nest on the ground. It may be three months before the young first fly, and five months before they make extensive flights. Northern red-footed booby pairs may remain together over several seasons. They perform elaborate greeting rituals, including harsh squawks and the male's display of his blue throat, also including short dances. The conservation status of the northern red-footed booby is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the northern red-footed booby's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii