Bird guideAbbott's Booby

Description Abbott's booby is the largest of all booby species, and is adapted to long-distance flight.

⚠️Endangered
🌿Endemic to Australia

At a glance

FamilyBoobies and Gannets
SizeSmall
RarityRare
HabitatThe increase in sea temperatures reduces breeding success, as the best feeding is found in cold water caused by nutrient-rich upwellings.
Best timeMost reliable in Western Australia from November.

Sounds

Sound sample
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Recorded by Craig Robertson

Range map

Range map

13visible hotspots
40visible records
1states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Gangly, stretched-out-looking black-and-white seabird. Strikingly slender and strange-looking in flight. Bizarre long-necked and slender-winged profile is unique, and should readily distinguish this species from any others in range. Bill is pale pink in females and grayish in males.

Behavior

Breeds in the rainforest canopy of Christmas Island, and forages in the adjacent ocean. Some birds, especially immatures, will forage much farther afield, but the extent of these rangings is still poorly understood.

Regional timing

Western Australia
Peak: November6 records
New South Wales
Peak: January1 records
Northern Territory
Peak: February1 records
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