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Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Animals

Seals, octopuses, jellyfish and more

Masked booby

Sula dactylatra

A large white seabird with a dark face mask that nests on the island islets, and no sighting is ever a promise.

Least ConcernIn 80 Atlas countries

Least Concern (IUCN, 2018) means the species as a whole is not close to being threatened, although its world population is declining.

Masked booby on Ascension Island
Photo: Drew Avery, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Masked booby with a chick on Tern Island, French Frigate Shoals
Photo: Duncan Wright, USFWS, Wikimedia Commons, PUBLIC DOMAIN
Flock of masked boobies in flight over the Atlantic
Photo: ImagePerson, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Masked booby flying beside a cruise ship
Photo: ImagePerson, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Photos show the species, not always the places on this page.

Length

About 75 to 85 cm (30 to 33 in), with a wingspan of about 160 to 170 cm (63 to 67 in)

Weight

About 1.2 to 2.2 kg (2.6 to 4.9 lb)

Next to a person

Wingspan about as wide as a tall adult's arm span, and about as heavy as a large bag of rice at the top of its range

What it eats

Mostly flying fish up to about 28 cm and squid, with other fish such as skipjack tuna and mahi-mahi. It plunge-dives to feed.

Around people

Calm, give space

How it lives

Pairs stay together and nest in a shallow scrape on open ground. The female lays two eggs a few days apart, incubation lasts about 40 to 49 days, and the chick fledges after about 113 to 120 days. Birds first breed at about 4 years old, and one banded bird lived at least 24 years and 10 months.

Where it goes

Some masked boobies stay near their colonies all year, while others range widely over tropical and subtropical seas. On Norfolk Island they nest on Phillip Island, Nepean Island and the Norfolk islets.

We only draw a journey on the map when scientists have tracked it or clearly documented it. For this animal we have not found one yet.

Populations

IUCN lists the species as Least Concern (assessed 2018), though the world population is declining. The form on Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island and the Kermadecs is the Tasman masked booby, Sula dactylatra tasmani. NZ Birds Online reports around 900 on Norfolk Island and says the whole subspecies is likely under 2,000 individuals. The park service lists it as common on Norfolk. I did not open a source with a verified count for Phillip Island. Introduced predators are a main threat, and numbers fall in severe El Nino years.

Meet it respectfully

Watch the nesting islets from the Captain Cook Monument lookout or the Bird Rock lookout, as the park suggests. Never walk into a colony, and never chase, handle or disturb a bird, a nest or a chick. Keep boats well back from nesting islets. I did not read access rules for Phillip Island or Nepean Island, so follow park and local guidance. A sighting is never a promise.

Fun fact

Tap the bulb to light it up.

Where you may meet it

Masked booby in the Ocean Atlas

Places we have researched where this animal is recorded. It is never guaranteed, and some places are for watching from the boat only.

FijiTanzaniaW. SaharaCanadaUnited States of AmericaKazakhstanUzbekistanPapua New GuineaIndonesiaArgentinaChileDem. Rep. CongoSomaliaKenyaSudanChadHaitiDominican Rep.RussiaBahamasFalkland Is.NorwayGreenlandFr. S. Antarctic LandsTimor-LesteSouth AfricaLesothoMexicoUruguayBrazilBoliviaPeruColombiaPanamaCosta RicaNicaraguaHondurasEl SalvadorGuatemalaBelizeVenezuelaGuyanaSurinameFranceEcuadorPuerto RicoJamaicaCubaZimbabweBotswanaNamibiaSenegalMaliMauritaniaBeninNigerNigeriaCameroonTogoGhanaCôte d'IvoireGuineaGuinea-BissauLiberiaSierra LeoneBurkina FasoCentral African Rep.CongoGabonEq. GuineaZambiaMalawiMozambiqueeSwatiniAngolaBurundiIsraelLebanonMadagascarPalestineGambiaTunisiaAlgeriaJordanUnited Arab EmiratesQatarKuwaitIraqOmanCambodiaThailandLaosMyanmarVietnamNorth KoreaSouth KoreaMongoliaIndiaBangladeshBhutanNepalPakistanAfghanistanTajikistanKyrgyzstanTurkmenistanIranSyriaArmeniaSwedenBelarusUkrainePolandAustriaHungaryMoldovaRomaniaLithuaniaLatviaEstoniaGermanyBulgariaGreeceTurkeyAlbaniaCroatiaSwitzerlandLuxembourgBelgiumNetherlandsPortugalSpainIrelandAustraliaSri LankaChinaTaiwanItalyDenmarkUnited KingdomIcelandAzerbaijanGeorgiaPhilippinesMalaysiaBruneiSloveniaFinlandSlovakiaCzechiaEritreaJapanParaguayYemenSaudi ArabiaN. CyprusCyprusMoroccoEgyptLibyaEthiopiaDjiboutiSomalilandUgandaRwandaBosnia and Herz.MacedoniaSerbiaMontenegroKosovoTrinidad and TobagoS. SudanEmily Bay and Slaughter Bay, Norfolk IslandLittle Bay and Shoal Bay, AnguillaFlorida Keys (Key Largo), United StatesLa Jolla and the Channel Islands, United StatesMaui, United StatesOʻahu, United StatesSan Diego and La Jolla, United StatesJuneau and Southeast Alaska, United StatesGlacier Bay, United StatesSeward and Kenai Fjords, United StatesBaird Bay and Eyre Peninsula, AustraliaBarunguba and Narooma, AustraliaBremer Bay, AustraliaCairns, Port Douglas and the Ribbon Reefs, AustraliaChristmas Island, AustraliaCocos (Keeling) Islands, AustraliaLady Elliot Island, AustraliaLord Howe Island, AustraliaNingaloo, AustraliaRowley Shoals, AustraliaTasman Peninsula and Eaglehawk Neck, AustraliaMaria Island and the east coast, AustraliaXiaoliuqiu, TaiwanHualien, TaiwanLa Ventana, MexicoGuadalupe Island, MexicoDhofar and the Hallaniyat Islands, OmanMusandam and Khasab, OmanMuscat and the Daymaniyat Islands, OmanFrench coast of Saint Martin, Saint MartinChiloé and the Gulf of Corcovado, ChileFrancisco Coloane, Strait of Magellan, ChilePunta de Choros and the Humboldt Archipelago, ChileRapa Nui, ChileRobinson Crusoe Island (Juan Fernández), ChileFernando de Noronha, BrazilAbrolhos, BrazilPraia do Forte, BrazilSanta Catarina whale coast, BrazilBonito, BrazilLakshadweep (Agatti, Bangaram, Kadmat), IndiaNetrani and Murudeshwar, IndiaSwaraj Dweep (Havelock) and Barren Island, IndiaJames Bay and the island marine park, Saint HelenaMalpelo, ColombiaGorgona, ColombiaNuquí, Bahía Solano and Utría, ColombiaProvidencia and Santa Catalina, ColombiaSan Andrés, ColombiaDrake and Caño, Costa RicaQuepos and Golfo Dulce, Costa RicaLos Roques Archipelago, VenezuelaMochima, VenezuelaMoʻorea, French PolynesiaRurutu, French PolynesiaSalt Island and the RMS Rhone, British Virgin IslandsNorman Island and the Indians, British Virgin IslandsVirgin Gorda, British Virgin IslandsAnegada and Horseshoe Reef, British Virgin IslandsSaipan, Northern Mariana IslandsKaikōura, New ZealandPoor Knights Islands, New ZealandBay of Islands, New ZealandHauraki Gulf, New ZealandAkaroa and Banks Peninsula, New ZealandCulebra, Puerto RicoVieques, Puerto RicoLa Parguera, Puerto RicoRincon and the Mona Passage, Puerto RicoKiritimati (Christmas Island), KiribatiNorth Tarawa and Nooto wetland, KiribatiTamarin and Flic en Flac, MauritiusBlue Bay and Mahébourg, MauritiusBelle Mare, MauritiusRodrigues, MauritiusMáncora, Los Órganos and Cabo Blanco, PeruPunta Sal and the Tumbes coast, PeruParacas and the Ballestas Islands, PeruBourail, Poé and Déva, New CaledoniaNouméa and the Great Southern Lagoon, New CaledoniaPoindimié and Hienghène, New CaledoniaÎle des Pins (Kunié), New CaledoniaAdamstown, Pitcairn IslandsHenderson Island, Pitcairn IslandsBayahibe and the south coast, Dominican RepublicBimini, The BahamasAndros, The BahamasExuma Cays, The BahamasEleuthera, The BahamasAbu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesGalápagos, EcuadorOkinawa, JapanSouthern lagoon and Direction Island, Cocos (Keeling) IslandsPulu Keeling (North Keeling), Cocos (Keeling) IslandsSt John and the national park, US Virgin IslandsSanta Catalina and Coiba, PanamaGulf of Chiriquí, PanamaPearl Islands, PanamaIsla Iguana and Isla Cañas, PanamaBocas del Toro and Bastimentos, PanamaGuna Yala, PanamaLa Digue, SeychellesMahé, SeychellesPraslin and Curieuse, SeychellesBouillante and the Cousteau Reserve, GuadeloupeGalibi, SurinameBraamspunt, SurinameCades Reef and the southwest coast, Antigua and BarbudaEnglish Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard, Antigua and BarbudaBarbuda and Codrington Lagoon, Antigua and BarbudaJardines de la Reina, CubaMaria la Gorda and Guanahacabibes, CubaBonaire and Klein Bonaire, Caribbean NetherlandsSaba and Saba Bank, Caribbean NetherlandsSint Eustatius, Caribbean NetherlandsRoatán, HondurasUtila, HondurasGuanaja, HondurasCayos Cochinos, HondurasMan of War Shoal Marine Park, Sint MaartenMafia Island, TanzaniaMikindani and Mnazi Bay, TanzaniaZanzibar - Matemwe, Mnemba and Chumbe, TanzaniaTobago Cays, Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesUnion Island, Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSocotra Archipelago, YemenParke Marino, ArubaPalm Beach and West Point, ArubaReef platform and north shore, BermudaKadavu and the Great Astrolabe Reef, FijiPacific Harbour and Beqa Lagoon, FijiSavusavu and Vanua Levu, FijiTaveuni and Viani Bay, FijiYasawa and Drawaqa Manta Channel, FijiLevera, GrenadaMolinière Bay, GrenadaCarriacou, GrenadaFagatele Bay and the sanctuary, American SamoaOfu and the National Park, American SamoaSoufrière and the Pitons, Saint LuciaAnse Chastanet, Saint LuciaWest coast deep water, Saint LuciaGrande Anse, Saint LuciaPort Antonio and Negril, JamaicaAmatique Bay and Livingston, GuatemalaIztapa, GuatemalaGrand Turk, Turks and Caicos IslandsSalt Cay, Turks and Caicos IslandsProvidenciales and Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos IslandsWest Caicos and French Cay, Turks and Caicos IslandsWestpunt, CuraçaoWillemstad and the central coast, CuraçaoCuraçao Marine Park (southeast coast), CuraçaoKlein Curaçao, CuraçaoShell Beach, GuyanaVava'u and Ha'apai, TongaLe Carbet and the Caribbean coast, MartiniqueKavieng and New Ireland, Papua New GuineaKimbe Bay, Papua New GuineaMilne Bay, Papua New GuineaTufi (Oro Province), Papua New GuineaCarlisle Bay, BarbadosFolkestone Marine Park, BarbadosWest coast nesting beaches, BarbadosDominica, DominicaWatamu, KenyaDiani, KenyaShimoni and Kisite, KenyaLittle Cayman, Cayman IslandsGrand Cayman, Cayman IslandsCayman Brac, Cayman IslandsThe Narrows, Saint Kitts and NevisSoutheast Peninsula, Saint Kitts and NevisLittle Bay and the west coast, MontserratCôte des Arcadins, HaitiÎle-à-Vache, HaitiThree Bays Protected Area, HaitiCoron, Palawan, PhilippinesMoalboal, Cebu, PhilippinesPanglao and Balicasag, Bohol, PhilippinesSiquijor, PhilippinesApo Island and Dauin, PhilippinesApo Reef, PhilippinesBoracay, PhilippinesEl Nido and Bacuit Bay, PhilippinesPort Barton and San Vicente, PhilippinesTubbataha Reefs, PhilippinesPlacencia and the Southern Reef, BelizeArnavon Community Marine Park, Solomon IslandsGizo and Western Province, Solomon IslandsMarovo Lagoon and Uepi, Solomon IslandsMunda and Roviana Lagoon, Solomon IslandsSpeyside and Little Tobago, Trinidad and TobagoBuccoo Reef, Trinidad and TobagoTurtle Beach, Tobago, Trinidad and TobagoGrande Riviere, Trinidad, Trinidad and TobagoAitutaki, Cook IslandsRarotonga, Cook IslandsLos Cóbanos, El SalvadorJiquilisco Bay, El SalvadorAwala Yalimapo and the Amana reserve, French GuianaCorn Islands, NicaraguaSan Juan del Sur and La Flor, NicaraguaChacocente, NicaraguaAmed, Bali, IndonesiaGili Trawangan, IndonesiaKomodo, IndonesiaGili Air, IndonesiaMaratua and Derawan, IndonesiaRaja Ampat, IndonesiaNusa Penida, IndonesiaLovina, Bali, IndonesiaSalomon Atoll, Chagos (British Indian Ocean Territory)Peros Banhos, Chagos (British Indian Ocean Territory)Majuro Atoll, Marshall IslandsKwajalein Atoll, Marshall IslandsUpolu and Savaiʻi, SamoaAnjouan, ComorosGrande Comore, ComorosMohéli, ComorosTrincomalee and Nilaveli, Sri LankaKarachi turtle beaches (Hawksbay and Sandspit), PakistanChurna Island, PakistanAstola Island, PakistanDaran Beach, Jiwani, Pakistan

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American SamoaAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArubaAustraliaThe BahamasBarbadosBelizeBermudaBrazilBritish Virgin IslandsCaribbean NetherlandsCayman IslandsChagos (British Indian Ocean Territory)ChileCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaComorosCook IslandsCosta RicaCubaCuraçaoDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorFijiFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaGrenadaGuadeloupeGuatemalaGuyanaHaitiHondurasIndiaIndonesiaJamaicaJapanKenyaKiribatiMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritiusMexicoMontserratNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsOmanPakistanPanamaPapua New GuineaPeruPhilippinesPitcairn IslandsPuerto RicoSaint HelenaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSeychellesSint MaartenSolomon IslandsSri LankaSurinameTaiwanTanzaniaTongaTrinidad and TobagoTurks and Caicos IslandsUnited Arab EmiratesUnited StatesUS Virgin IslandsVenezuelaYemen
Sources for this page

Facts checked 5 October 2026. Photos: Unsplash licence, or Creative Commons as shown on each photo.

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