MASKED BOOBY

Photographed from Norfolk Island January 2016

 749               MASKED BOOBY             Sula dactylatra

Australia             (592)

74-86 cm, wingspan c. 1.7 cm. Range: breeds Bedout and Adele Is. (WA); Pandora Cay and Raine I. (ne Q); Swain and Wreck Reefs (ce Q); also many stations in sw Coral Sea; Norfolk and Lord Howe Is. Fairly common in oceanic waters of main range, usually well offshore; uncommon coastal. 

Photographs taken on Norfolk Island, January 2016 showing young at various stages and an adult flying.