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4

Masked Booby

(Sula dactylatra)
Alternate name(s): "Blue-faced Booby", "Masked Gannet"
Size: 75-85 cm; wing span 1.6-1.7 m
Weight:1.2-2.35 kg

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Masked Booby at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "fullagari"(?)

ADULT

MALE

Lateral view of a male Masked Booby (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Muttonbird Point, Lord Howe Island, November 2014]

View onto the upperparts of a male Masked Booby (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Muttonbird Point, Lord Howe Island, November 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a male Masked Booby in flight looking back at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Norfolk Island, January 2008]

FEMALE

View onto the upperparts of a female Masked Booby (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Muttonbird Point, Lord Howe Island, November 2014]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Colony of Masked Boobies nesting in tall grass; on the front left a nestling can be seen (with its white downy plumage and grey bill), at the top right one can see part of the mottled-grey plumage of a juvenile, fledged bird (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Muttonbird Point, Lord Howe Island, November 2014]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Nov Eggs: 2 - 3 Incubation period: ca. 44 days Fledging age: ca. 120 days

Depending on geographic latitude and conditions, Masked Boobies can breed almost any time of the year. The period listed in the table above indicates the peak breeding season. Usally only one chick will survive to fledging age.

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Scrape Material: Soil, grass Height above ground: N/A

Colony of Masked Boobies nesting in tall grass; at the centre an adult bird with a begging nestling (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Muttonbird Point, Lord Howe Island, November 2014]

Colony of Masked Boobies nesting in tall grass; on the front left a nestling can be seen (with its white downy plumage and grey bill), at the top right one can see part of the mottled-grey plumage of a juvenile, fledged bird (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Muttonbird Point, Lord Howe Island, November 2014]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 65 x 44 mm Colour: Off-white Shape: Tapered oval

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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