Common name: Red-footed Booby
Scientific name: Sula sula
Family: Sulidae

Size:
Body length: 66–77 cm
Wingspan: 130–150 cm
Weight: 800–1100 g

Identification:
A medium-sized seabird with a slender body, long pointed wings, and a streamlined profile. The most distinctive feature is its bright red feet. Plumage varies widely, from mostly white with dark flight feathers to brown morphs, but all share the red feet and bluish bill. The wings are long and narrow, suited for efficient flight.

Habitat:
Tropical and subtropical oceans, especially around islands and offshore waters. Nests in trees or shrubs on islands.

Status in the UAE:
Rare vagrant. Occasionally recorded offshore.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds on fish and squid.

Behavior:
Highly aerial and graceful. Hunts by diving from height into the sea. Often seen gliding effortlessly over open water. Breeds colonially on remote islands. Unlike many boobies, it frequently nests in trees rather than on the ground.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)