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How do boobies capture fish underwater?

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Three eastern white pelicans with black-tipped wings take off from a muddy shoreline, wings outstretched, with blurred green vegetation in the background. — Pelecaniform European white pelicans (*Pelecanus onocrotalus*) in flight.

Boobies are specialized for capturing prey by performing high-speed aerial dives into the water. When they spot schools of fish or squid from the air, they execute a swift, vertical plunge to reach their prey.12

Because boobies are buoyant swimmers with legs that are not streamlined for fast underwater propulsion, they rely primarily on the momentum gained during their dive to approach prey at high speeds. Their feet are used mainly for steering rather than for swimming. To protect themselves from the impact of striking the water at such high velocities, boobies possess a system of air sacs under the skin that acts as a protective, spongy mattress.13

Additionally, some species, such as the blue-footed booby, may dive in groups to potentially confuse fish in a school, thereby increasing the success rate of the hunt. While they primarily hunt underwater, some species, such as the red-footed booby, are also capable of catching flying fish in the air.1