This strictly marine species feeds close to the coast in cool upwelling waters, where food is abundant. It feeds almost exclusively on anchovetta, but will switch to other fish species when stocks collapse. Feeding mostly occurs by plunge-diving from moderate height, usually in groups of more than 30-40 individuals. Breeding is only loosely seasonal on bare, arid islets along rocky coasts, mostly on cliff ledges in Chile; in Peru, it prefers open, flat ground. It is largely sedentary, but will disperse widely during El Niño years (del Hoyo et al. 1992).

The Peruvian Booby is found in the area of the Humboldt Current, breeding from northern Peru to central Chile, with non-breeders being found as far as Ecuador and south-west Colombia.