Phaethon rubricauda
The Red-tailed Tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda, is a striking pelagic seabird instantly recognizable by its dazzling white plumage, jet-black eye mask, and a vibrant red bill, complemented by two exceptionally long, slender red tail streamers that can extend up to two feet. Averaging 40-48 cm (16-19 in) in body length, excluding the streamers, and boasting a wingspan of 99-106 cm (39-42 in), it presents an elegant, almost ethereal silhouette against the open ocean and tropical skies. Taxonomi...
Exclusively pelagic over warm tropical and subtropical oceans, returning only to remote, often predator-free, oceanic islands and atolls for breeding at sea-level elevations.
Feeds almost exclusively on flying fish (Exocoetidae) and squid, which it catches by plunge-diving from heights of up to 20 meters.
Primarily diurnal, the Red-tailed Tropicbird spends the vast majority of its life soaring over the open ocean, only coming ashore to breed, often roosting on sea cliffs or dense vegetation. Foraging is characterized by spectacular plunge-diving from considerable heights, often after a period of h...
The Red-tailed Tropicbird boasts a widespread distribution across the tropical and subtropical regions of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, with occasional records from the South Atlantic. Its primary breeding grounds are scattered across numerous remote islands and atolls, including significant col...
Least Concern
- The Red-tailed Tropicbird's elongated tail streamers can measure up to half its total body length, making it one of the most distinctive tail structures in the avian world. - During their elaborate courtship display, Red-tailed Tropicbirds are known to fly backwards for short distances, a truly...