Abbott's booby  (Papasula abbotti)

Abbott's booby pairs stay together through successive seasons and nest colonially between April and October (5). A single egg is laid into a nest constructed from leafy twigs and both parents take it in turns to incubate the egg during the 56 day period; much longer than for other members of this family (6). Breeding occurs from about eight years of age and life expectancy may be up to 40 years (4). Breeding success averages around 30 percent and one pair will rear roughly two offspring every 9.5 years (5).

These seabirds feed on fish and squid (4), presumably by plunge diving (5). Adults return to feed their young in the late afternoon and early evening (5), and it is likely that Abbott's boobies rely on cold upwellings near to Christmas Island where there is a seasonal abundance of food (6).