Red footed boobies are found across the tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. These birds are one of three booby species found in the Galapagos Islands. Their name comes from the Spanish word "bobo," meaning fool or clown, reflecting their awkward movements on land. As the smallest of the booby species, red footed boobies are easily recognized by their bright red legs and feet and pale blue beak. Unusually, they come in several color variations. The brown form, most common in the Galapagos, is mostly brown with a white belly, rump, and tail. There is also a white morph that is mostly white with black on the flight feathers, and a black-tailed white morph, which is similar but with a black tail, often confused with the Nazca and masked boobies that also inhabit the archipelago. Juveniles are typically brown or blackish-grey with a black bill and gray legs. Both males and females look alike, though females are usually larger, while males might have longer tails. Red footed boobies are excellent flyers, capable of traveling up to 90 miles in search of food. They are well-suited for diving, with long bills, streamlined bodies, and wings that can be folded back before they plunge into the water. They primarily hunt fish like flying fish, which they spot from above, and also dive for schooling squid at night. These birds are very social, often found in large breeding colonies from late January to September. Males attract females by performing a display known as “skypointing,” where they tilt their heads back until their beaks point straight up. Unlike other booby species, red footed boobies build their nests on top of shrubs or small trees using twigs and sticks gathered by the male. Their longer toes help them grip branches. They typically lay a single egg, which both parents incubate for about 45 days. Chicks take about three months to fledge. Although they usually only lay one egg every 15 months, this is balanced by their long lifespan, often exceeding 20 years.