Sula sula | red-footed booby | ʻā

Red-footed booby, photo by Kris Kokame

Indigenous

Other Names: akeake

The ʻā, or red-footed booby, is the most abundant booby in the Hawaiian Islands. They nest in colonies and almost exclusively in shrubs and trees. Young birds do not have the characteristic pinkish-red feet they are named for. They gain their red feet as they become adults. They are mostly white with black wing edges and a pale blue bill.

The map below shows hotspots along our birding trails where you might see this bird. Learn more by visiting our species profile page for ʻā.

Native Birds of Hawaiʻi

Hotspots for red-footed booby

Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge

Wetland

Hanalei NWR, photo by USFWS
LookoutHikingBathroomParkingInterpretive Signage

Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

Coastal

Kilauea Point NWR, photo by D Peebles
LookoutHikingBathroomParkingInterpretive SignageRanger Station

Salt Pond Beach Park

Coastal

Salt Pond Beach Park
LookoutBathroomParkingPicnic areaTrash

Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary

Wetland

Kawaiele State Waterbird Sanctuary, photo by DLNR
LookoutHikingParkingInterpretive Signage

Pihea Trail

Wet forest

Pihea Trail, photo by DOFAW
LookoutHikingParking

Nuʻupia Pond

Wetland

Nuupia Pond, photo courtesy of USMC
Hiking

Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail

Coastal

Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail, photo by DLNR
HikingParkingInterpretive Signage

Lāʻie Point State Wayside Park

Coastal

Lāʻie Point State Wayside, photo by DLNR
LookoutParkingTrash

Lānaʻi Lookout

Coastal

Lanai Lookout, photo by Lainie Berry
LookoutParking

James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge

Wetland

Kioea at James Campbell NWR, photo by Lainie Berry
HikingParking

SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park

Coastal

Waiʻānapanapa State Park, photo by DLNR
LookoutHikingBathroomParkingInterpretive SignagePicnic areaTrash

Open Ocean

Open Ocean

Keāhole Point

Coastal

LookoutParking
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