Order: Phaethontiformes | Family: Phaethontidae | IUCN Status: Least Concern
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Hawai Islands
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Midway Atoll
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown |Loc. Madagascar
Age: Juvenile | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Madagascar
Identification & Behavior: ~79.5 cm (31.2 in). The Red-tailed Tropicbird is mostly white. Seen from above, it shows black markings on the lower tertials. It has a reduced stripe through the eye, a bright red bill, and two long red central tail feathers. Some adults have a rosy tinge to them. Juveniles lack the long red streamers, have a dark bill, and a heavily barred back and wings. It is structurally similar to Red-billed Tropicbird.
Status: The Red-tailed Tropicbird is widespread in tropical ocean waters. It is highly pelagic and considered an accidental species in Peru. A single sight record comes from off the coast of Tacna.
Name in Spanish: Ave del Tropico de Cola Roja.
Sub-species: Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) Boddaert, 1783.
Meaning of Name: Phaethon: Gr Myth Phaëthon, son of King Phoebus. rubricauda: L. rubri=red, cauda=tail. King of the Air with a red tail.
Distribution Map
Voice
Voice
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