The Blue-footed Booby is strictly marine, feeding in adjacent inshore waters, tending to exploit cool, rich waters in areas of upwelling. It specialises in catching fish by plunge-diving, often in unison. It takes sardines, achovies and mackerel, but also flying-fish and squid. It has been seen fishing in the company of dolphins and Peruvian Boobies. Breeding is seasonal in places and otherwise opportunistic, nesting on cliffs and islets in areas with little or no vegetation (del Hoyo et al. 1992).

This species is found on the western coast of the Americas, ranging from north-west Mexico and Panama to north Peru and the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. When food is scarce, it can be seen as far north as California (U.S.A.) and northern Chile.