Booby Birds In Maui: 4 Species And Where To Spot Them
May 7th, 2025
| Marine Life
Written by Maui Snorkeling, operating tours to Molokini Crater, Turtle Town, and Coral Gardens from Māʻalaea Harbor since 1985. Tours are led by USCG-licensed captains aboard a USCG-inspected passenger vessel.
Last updated October 16, 2026
Quick answer
Booby birds in Maui are ocean seabirds you may spot from boats or established coastal viewpoints. This guide covers red-footed, brown, masked, and Cocos boobies, but they aren’t equally likely on a visitor outing. Cocos boobies have documented breeding records near Maui, and identifying them requires careful comparison.
Main takeaways:
Best viewing: Boat crossings, Molokini views from the water, rocky points, and offshore islets
Most useful ID clue: Look at feet, belly color, face markings, wing pattern, and overall size
Best time: Calm mornings usually make it easier to scan the sky and water
Important rule: Watch from a distance and don’t approach nesting areas or seabird sanctuaries
Aloha! When you think of Maui, you probably picture clear waters, colorful fish, and lush green mountains. Our island paradise is known for great snorkeling and the chance to swim with sea turtles and colorful coral reefs. But you might also see another amazing group of residents flying above or nesting along the shore. We’re talking about booby birds, a fun name for some of Hawaii’s most amazing seabirds!
These aren't your everyday pigeons, folks. Boobies are sleek, agile seabirds with a knack for dramatic dives and distinctive appearances. Spotting one during your Maui vacation is a real treat, adding another layer of wonder to your island experience. While the name might sound a little silly, these birds are anything but! They are skilled hunters and captivating to watch.
While you may not see all the booby bird species found worldwide in Maui, we do have some special visitors. These birds either call our islands home or stop by during their time at sea. Let's take a closer look at the booby birds you might encounter during your Maui adventures.
Booby Birds in Maui Comparison
Compare four booby species documented around Maui, using adult
markings and local viewing context. These birds aren’t equally
likely on a visitor outing, and young birds may look different
from the adults described below.
Species
Adult identification clues
Maui viewing context
Helpful distinction
Red-footed booby
Sula sula
Red feet, a pale blue bill with pinkish skin around its
base, and long pointed wings. Plumage can be mostly
white with dark flight feathers or brown.
Watch over open water and from established coastal
viewpoints. Don’t assume a boat trip will pass a nesting colony.
Usually nests in trees or shrubs. Young birds lack the
adults’ bright red feet.
Brown booby
Sula leucogaster
Dark brown head, chest, back, and tail, with a sharply
contrasting white belly. Bill and facial colors vary by sex.
Coastal and offshore waters around Maui. Observe from
a boat or established viewpoint without approaching
nesting habitat.
The clear boundary between the brown chest and white
belly is more useful than brown coloring alone.
Masked booby
Sula dactylatra
Large, mostly white body, dark flight feathers and tail,
dark facial skin around the bill, and a yellow to
greenish-yellow bill.
An offshore species to watch for over open water.
Don’t treat it as a dependable sighting on a Molokini tour.
Compare the facial mask, dark tail, and wing pattern.
Immature birds don’t show the same crisp adult plumage.
Cocos booby
Sula brewsteri
Similar to a brown booby. Males may have a conspicuously
pale head and neck; compare underwing markings,
iris color, and bill features as well.
Published research has documented breeding on an
offshore islet near Maui. This doesn’t make it a
guaranteed visitor sighting or an accessible nesting site.
Recognized separately from brown booby in 2024.
A pale head alone isn’t enough for a confident identification.
Note: These clues describe adults. Age, lighting,
distance, and viewing angle can make identification difficult.
Use binoculars or a zoom lens, compare several features, and
leave the identification uncertain when the view isn’t clear.
Respect sanctuary restrictions and never approach nests for
a closer look.
Why young boobies can be harder to identify
Young boobies don’t always show the features that give adults their names. Juvenile red-footed boobies lack bright red feet, and immature birds can have browner plumage than the adults pictured in guides. A brown-looking bird therefore isn’t automatically a brown booby. Compare several features, photograph it from a distance, and leave the identification uncertain when the view isn’t clear.
Where to See Booby Birds in Maui
The best places to see booby birds in Maui are usually offshore, along rocky coastlines, or near protected seabird habitat. You don’t need to land anywhere to enjoy them. In fact, you should admire seabird sanctuaries from a respectful distance.
Boobies share Maui's coastal skies with other seabirds. Our guide to birds of Maui helps you recognize ʻiwa, shearwaters, and other species while planning birdwatching stops around the island.
Molokini and Offshore Boat Crossings
A boat trip to Molokini gives you opportunities to watch passing seabirds, but it isn’t a dedicated birdwatching trip and doesn’t guarantee booby sightings. DLNR identifies wedge-tailed shearwaters as the islet’s main seabird residents and notes great frigatebirds overhead. Enjoy any birds you encounter from the boat; visitors cannot land on the islet.
Rocky Shorelines and Coastal Points
From land, scan rocky points, cliffs, and open water with binoculars. Areas like La Perouse Bay, Kapalua, and Ke‘anae can offer better views than busy sandy beaches.
Offshore Islets and Seabird Sanctuaries
Some of Maui’s offshore islets protect important seabird habitat. Enjoy these places from shore, from the water, or with binoculars, but don’t try to land or get closer to nesting birds.
What Are Booby Birds?
Booby birds, known as ʻā in Hawaiian, are large seabirds with long wings, sharp beaks, and webbed feet. (For the brown booby, Hawaiʻi Birding Trails also lists akeake as an alternate name.) They belong to the family Sulidae, which includes several species that thrive across the Hawaiian Islands.
Boobies are expert ocean hunters. They fly over the water, watch for prey, then plunge-dive to catch fish and squid. Seeing one dive from a boat is quick, powerful, and easy to miss if you’re not already watching the sky.
This guide covers four booby species documented around Maui:
Red-footed Booby
Brown Booby
Masked Booby
Cocos Booby
Let’s explore each one!
Red-Footed Booby
Red-footed boobies are named for their bright red/orange feet. Juveniles don't have fully red feet yet. Red-footed boobies are the most abundant booby species in the Hawaiian Islands. They live in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide, including parts of Hawaii.
What to Look for
Adult red-footed boobies have red feet and a pale blue bill with pinkish skin around its base. Their plumage ranges from mostly white with dark flight feathers to brown. Young birds lack the adults’ bright red feet, so use body shape, bill color, and other markings together rather than relying on feet alone.
Where you may see them in Maui
Watch for red-footed boobies over open water or from established coastal viewpoints. Binoculars can help you recognize their bill, wing pattern, and feet without approaching them. A boat trip may offer a sighting, but it doesn’t guarantee birds or views of a nesting colony.
Quick Facts
Red-footed boobies are great at flying long distances.
They often form breeding pairs that return to the same nesting site year after year.
They live in large groups called colonies, often on small islands or steep cliffs.
Brown Booby
Brown boobies are another species you may encounter in Maui’s coastal and offshore waters. As their name suggests, these birds are primarily a rich, chocolatey brown color with a contrasting white belly.
What to Look for
Adult brown boobies have a dark brown head, neck, back, and tail, with a sharply contrasting white belly. The boundary between the brown chest and white belly is especially useful for identification. Bill and facial colors vary by sex, so don’t expect every bird to have the same yellow bill.
Where you may see them in Maui
Brown Boobies are often seen on Maui’s cliffs and rocky shores. Look for them near spots like La Perouse Bay, Molokini Crater, or Kapalua.
Quick Facts
Brown Boobies like to nest on rocky ground or ledges.
They fly close to the water, skimming the waves in search of fish.
They are strong and fast divers, watch out for splashdowns!
Masked Booby
The Masked Booby is a striking bird with a predominantly white body and dark wings and tail. It gets its name from the black "mask" around its eyes, which contrasts sharply with its white face.
What to Look for
Adult masked boobies are large, mostly white seabirds with dark flight feathers, a dark tail, and dark bare skin around the bill. Their bill is typically yellow to greenish-yellow. Young birds look different, so the crisp adult black-and-white pattern won’t identify every age.
Where you may see them in Maui
Like the Red-footed Booby, Masked Boobies are often seen on offshore islands or during boat trips. They tend to nest on flat or gently sloping ground.
Quick Facts
Masked boobies typically nest on the ground on remote islands.
They can travel long distances offshore to find food.
They plunge-dive from heights of up to about 100 feet.
Cocos Booby
The Cocos booby (Sula brewsteri) was formerly grouped with the brown booby and recognized as a separate species in 2024. Published research documents breeding on an offshore islet near Maui, so its local story is more than occasional visits. That doesn’t make it a dependable tourist sighting, and identifying one requires care.
What to Look for
Compared with a typical brown booby, Cocos boobies often have a noticeably paler, whitish head and neck (especially males), a darker iris, and, in flight, may show more brown in the underwing coverts (the pale underside “panel” can look more broken or striped). Field ID can be subtle; photos help a lot.
Where you may see them in Maui
Cocos boobies have been documented in Maui’s offshore seabird habitat. Watch from an established coastal viewpoint or a boat without approaching nesting areas. If you photograph a possible Cocos booby, compare several features rather than relying on a pale head alone.
Quick Facts
Cocos boobies have been appearing in new areas of the Pacific in recent years.
Like other boobies, they can make grunting or quacking sounds at colonies.
Boobies connect ocean and island ecosystems. They catch food at sea and return nutrients to their nesting habitat through guano (bird droppings). Protecting their colonies helps preserve that connection between land and ocean.
Their nesting areas also need protection from introduced predators and human disturbance. Watching through binoculars lets you enjoy the birds without entering the places where they raise their chicks.
Tips for Spotting Them on Maui
Want to see one of these awesome birds while you’re in Maui? Here are a few tips:
Bring binoculars - They’re great for spotting birds in the air or perched far away.
Go early when you can - Mornings are often calmer with better visibility.
Check conditions - Wind and swell can change what you see (and where).
Watch the skies - Look up while on the boat or walking the beach. Boobies often fly overhead.
Visit cliffs and rocky coasts - Places like La Perouse Bay or the Ke‘anae Peninsula are great for bird watching.
Bonus seabird to look for: The Great Frigatebird (huge wingspan and unforgettable silhouette).
And of course, don’t forget your camera!
Responsible Booby Bird Watching in Maui
Boobies are incredible to watch, but they’re also wild seabirds that need space, especially around nesting areas. Here’s how to spot them respectfully (and keep Maui’s seabird habitat protected):
Don’t land on offshore islets or seabird sanctuaries. Molokini is a seabird sanctuary; enjoy it from the boat/water only.
Use binoculars (or a zoom lens) instead of getting closer. You’ll see more detail without stressing the birds.
Keep your distance and keep the noise down near cliffs and nesting areas; avoid shouting, loud music, or sudden commotion.
Never feed wildlife or toss food scraps overboard (it changes animal behavior and can harm them).
Ready to Explore Maui’s Underwater World?
Experience Maui’s ocean environment aboard the Lani Kai II. We’ll provide snorkel gear, food, and friendly crew support, so you can focus on the adventure!
Tours depart from Maʻalaea Harbor. Routes, snorkel sites, and marine life sightings vary with ocean conditions.
FAQs
This guide covers red-footed, brown, masked, and Cocos boobies. These species aren’t equally likely on a visitor outing. Cocos boobies have documented breeding records near Maui, but sightings and confident identification aren’t guaranteed.
Some of the best places to look for booby birds in Maui are offshore boat routes, coastal lookouts, rocky points, and areas near seabird sanctuaries. Molokini is a great place to watch for seabirds from the boat, but landing on the islet isn’t allowed.
It’s possible to see boobies during a boat crossing or near Molokini, but sightings aren’t guaranteed. Other seabirds, including frigatebirds and shearwaters, may also be seen. A snorkeling tour isn’t a dedicated birdwatching trip.
For adults, compare the feet, bill, chest, belly, wing pattern, and face markings. Red-footed boobies have red feet, brown boobies have a dark chest sharply separated from a white belly, and masked boobies have mostly white plumage with dark flight feathers and a dark facial mask. Young birds and possible Cocos boobies require closer comparison.
Yes, seabirds and their nesting areas are protected in Hawaii. Visitors should watch from a distance, avoid nesting areas, and never try to land on protected offshore islets or disturb wildlife.
Choose good daylight and a comfortable, safe viewing location. Morning boat trips may offer lighter winds, but there’s no guaranteed time for booby sightings. Bring binoculars and scan both the sky and the water.
Final Thoughts
Watching Maui’s seabirds adds another dimension to a day on the coast or water. Notice their wing shapes, feeding dives, and changing plumage, but don’t feel you need to identify every distant bird. Bring binoculars, give nesting birds space, and treat any sighting as a bonus. For more species to watch for, explore our birds of Maui guide.🐦
Sources & Updates
Use these species guides and published research to learn about
booby identification, nesting, and documented occurrence around
Maui. Before your outing, check sanctuary access rules,
ocean safety guidance, and current marine forecasts.
