6. Blue-footed boobies aren’t born with blue feet!. Once a blue-footed booby is old enough, its feet begin to turn blue. It is one easy way to tell the difference between mature and immature boobies.
7. The male dances to attract a mate. It’s like these birds perform a ritual. The male blue-footed booby will dance for his mate by stomping around proudly displaying his blue feet. Male and female will circle each other for a few minutes, stomping, whistling, and honking. The bluer the feet, the more attractive the mate.
8. These boobies live off the western coasts of Central and South America. The Galápagos Islands population includes more than half of all breeding pairs of blue-footed boobies. Approximately 70% of the total blue-footed booby population is found in the Galapagos Islands.
9. There’s a scientific explanation for why the Blue-footed booby has blue feet, why so blue!?. Scientists have discovered that the blue color of the booby’s feet is the result of carotenoid pigments obtained from its fish diet. Because of the carotenoid pigments, they take in through their food, they get concentrated in their feet, making them appear blue! The carotenoid pigments also act as antioxidants and stimulants for the immune system in boobys.! Therefore, the blue pigmentation is a reliable indication of the bird’s overall health.
10. The blue-footed booby doesn’t laugh although they appear to be laughing at you they are just cooling themselves. Blue-footed boobies can overheat in the hot Galapagos sun. One way they cool themselves and lower their body temperature is by opening their mouth and vibrating the skin in the neck.