Red-footed Booby (Sula sula) is in the Boobies and Gannets family (Sulidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,469 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in December.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Red-footed Booby: observations by month (U.S.)
About Red-footed Booby
The red-footed booby (Sula sula) is a large seabird of the booby family, Sulidae. As suggested by the name, adults always have red feet, but the colour of the plumage varies. They are powerful and agile fliers, but they are clumsy in takeoffs and landings. They are found widely in the tropics, and breed colonially in coastal regions, especially islands.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Red-footed Booby by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1,979 | December | Nov–Oct |
| California | 249 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Texas | 115 | November | Oct–Feb |
| Washington | 92 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Florida | 23 | April | Apr–Sep |
| North Carolina | 6 | March | Mar–Mar |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Boobies and Gannets)
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Red-footed Booby?
Nationally, December has the most observations, with the main season from November to October.
Where is Red-footed Booby most often seen?
The most observations come from Hawaii, California, Texas.