Boobies (1 Viewer)

[OldFatherTime]

I took these photos of boobies on a recent cruise in the Coral Sea - red-footed (all morphs), brown and masked. It took me a while to realise that they were trying to catch the flying fish disturbed by the ship's passage. The birds (and fish) are fast, hence the not very good picture quality. One photo is of a red-footed trying to re-catch a fish it had just dropped, another is of one in pursuit of a fish.

My question related to the light morph red-footed with the noticeable spot on its neck. It has a gannet-like coloured head which confused me - was it a gannet? I was eventually convinced that it wasn't, but the bird book I had with me (Simpson & Day) didn't mention this possibility. My Australian bird book back here at home (Slater) does say "Light phase: white with golden sheen on head", so question answered I guess, although from what I saw most didn't. I thought I'd post the photos anyway.

 

[Brad Hacker]

RF Booby.

Australasian Gannet has black central retrices, and the white/black transition on the wing is close to/on the wrist, and curved.
RF Booby has white tail, and the white/black transition on the wing is farther out than the wrist, and straighter.

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