Which seabird performs a mating dance showing off its bright blue feet?

The seabird that performs a mating dance with its bright blue feet is the blue-footed booby. During courtship, the male struts, lifts each foot, and presents the vivid color to a potential mate. He may also point his bill skyward in a display called sky-pointing and offer nest material.

The blue-footed booby is a marine bird of the eastern Pacific, ranging from parts of the California coast to Peru and the Galápagos Islands. Its scientific name is Sula nebouxii, and it belongs to the same family as other boobies and gannets.

The blue color is more than decoration. Pigments from fresh fish interact with specialized collagen structures in the skin, and brighter feet can signal better current health and nutritional condition. Females often show a preference for males with vivid feet.

A common mix-up is the red-footed booby, another member of the same genus. Its feet are red, so it does not fit this question.