Meet the Blue-Footed Booby, a seabird known for its bright blue feet. The name "booby" comes from the Spanish word bobo, meaning fool or clown, given by early sailors who were amused by the bird’s clumsy, high-stepping walk and fearless curiosity around humans. But once in the air, the Blue-footed Booby becomes a skilled hunter. Flocks can become breathtaking in an instant, diving from the sky into the ocean together to catch fish.

This bird is fairly large, measuring about 80 to 90 centimeters (32 to 35 inches) from beak to tail, with a wingspan of around 1.5 meters (5 feet). Males and females look similar at a glance, with chocolate-brown wings, white underparts, and long gray beaks. Females tend to be a little bigger and heavier, often weighing up to 2 kilograms (about 4.4 pounds), compared to the males’ 1.5 kilograms (around 3.3 pounds). They also tend to have darker blue feet than males or younger birds.

Both sexes share those vivid blue, webbed feet that range from pale turquoise to deep aqua. The color comes from pigments in the fish they eat and plays a major role in attracting mates. Above their beaks, Blue-footed Boobies have yellow eyes that face forward, giving them good depth perception and a slightly wide-eyed look.