Blue-footed booby, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

© Tui De Roy/Minden Picture

A smooth landing, feet first. Blue-footed booby, Galápagos Islands

Today we join the fun with this blue-footed booby at the shores of the Galápagos Islands and celebrate Darwin Day. It is said that the name booby comes from the Spanish word 'bobo,' which means stupid. Boobies are so named because sailors could easily catch them and, therefore, thought they were not very clever. Their distinctive, bright blue feet are easy to notice, as Charles Darwin did during his visits to South America and the Galápagos Islands. A fascinating thing about this marine bird is their mating dance, wherein the male bird exuberantly stomps around with his blue feet displayed in full view. The birds mate for life and can recognize their partner by their unique call.