The Nazca Booby (*Sula granti*) is a large seabird found across the eastern Pacific, with one of its most significant breeding colonies in the Galápagos Islands, easily identified by its bright white plumage, black flight feathers along the wings and tail, and a striking orange-to-pink bill that contrasts against pale blue-grey facial skin around the eyes. Formerly classified as a subspecies of the Masked Booby before being recognized as its own distinct species, it's the largest of the booby species found in the Galápagos and nests in open, exposed areas on cliffs and flat ground, particularly on islands like Española and Genovesa. Nazca Boobies are known for a brutal but well-documented breeding strategy called obligate siblicide, where a female typically lays two eggs, but the first-hatched chick almost always kills its younger sibling within days of hatching — a behavior researchers believe evolved as insurance in case the first egg fails, rather than as a strategy for raising two chicks. Skilled plunge-divers, they feed primarily on flying fish and squid by diving from significant heights into the ocean at high speed, and thanks to stable, well-managed colonies in the Galápagos, the species is currently considered of least concern despite localized threats from El Niño events that reduce food availability.
