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Nature GuideGuide

Masked booby

Meet Tetiaroa's masked booby family. More...

Masked booby

The masked booby is able to dive more than several tens of meters in height to catch a fish. It feeds mainly on flying fish and squid. The Kena nests on the ground in scattered colonies, often on the beach in windy places. During the breeding season the parents incubate 2 eggs, laid 6 days apart, but will only care for one during hatching. The male has a bright yellow beak, while it is green-yellow in the female.

Tetiaroa now boasts a resident masked booby family. The happy couple hatched 2 chicks in October in their nesting area in the northern part of motu Hiraanae.

Adult size (wingspan) 2,5 - 2,8 ft Incubation 42 - 49 days Parental care 109 - 151 days Longevity 23 years Distance from coast for fishing 124 miles Abundance in Tetiaroa (2022) 1 couple Statut UICN Least Concern

masked booby on motu Hiraanae Tetiaroa
masked booby on motu Hiraanae Tetiaroa
masked booby parent with 2 hatchlings
masked booby parent with 2 hatchlings
masked booby parent caring for hatchlings
masked booby parent caring for hatchlings