You may not recognize this marine bird with gray webbed feet as it waddles toward you and stares with curiosity. This is a juvenile blue-footed booby. By the time it reaches maturity, its feet will turn blue from the carotenoid pigments in its fish diet. The intensity of the color indicates healthiness and fertility so is critical in attracting a mate. The blue-footed booby is the second largest booby in the Galápagos Islands. They typically measure 32 inches, weigh just over three pounds and have a five-foot wingspan. Approximately 70% of the 40,000 breeding pairs in the world live at 15 locations in the Galápagos Islands.
