In a rare and unexpected sighting, a juvenile masked booby bird — typically found far offshore in tropical regions — was rescued from a residential society in Goregaon East on Wednesday evening.
The bird was discovered inside Bhawani building in the Dindoshi area. Concerned residents alerted wildlife rescuer Sunil Gupta, who has been saving birds and animals for over 15 years. Gupta safely rescued the disoriented bird and handed it over to the forest department for further care.
Speaking to mid-day, Gupta said, “Around 5.10 pm on Wednesday, I received a call from the society about an unusual-looking bird inside their premises. I rushed to the location and informed fellow rescuer Sai Mondkar. Upon inspection, I realised it was a rare species — a juvenile masked booby.”
“This bird is usually found far out at sea or nesting on remote islands, particularly in the Arabian Sea. It looked scared and disoriented, and a group of crows was attacking it. Possibly due to this, the bird sought shelter within the society premises,” Gupta explained.
About masked booby
Wildlife explorer and naturalist Yogesh Patel told mid-day, “The juvenile masked booby is a pelagic seabird, most often found offshore in tropical waters. They typically nest on isolated islands and feed mainly on fish. These birds often travel in groups alongside other pelagic species like terns, shearwaters, and other boobies.”
He added, “The name ‘booby’ comes from the Spanish word bobo, meaning clown — due to their comical and clumsy appearance. They are not dangerous and often show little fear of humans. It’s likely this bird lost its way due to strong winds or a navigational error and ended up in Mumbai.”
Appearance and traits
Juvenile masked boobies have grey-brown heads and upperparts, with a white collar and pale underparts. Their wings are dark brown, and their bills appear yellowish, with a bluish-grey face and dark brown eyes. As they mature, their plumage becomes predominantly white, especially on the head, collar, and rump. The species is known for its powerful beak and long, pointed wings — perfect for diving into the sea to catch prey.
