BirdUp · Species
Red-tailed Tropicbird
Phaethon rubricaudaBoddaert, 1783
- Order
- PHAETHONTIFORMES
- Family
- Phaethontidae
- Genus
- Phaethon
- Conservation
- Least Concern
- Commonness
- Very common
- Best seen
- Year-round
01 · Identification
How to tell it apart
The red-tailed tropicbird is a seabird native to tropical parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. One of three closely related species of tropicbird (Phaethontidae), it was described by Pieter Boddaert in 1783. Superficially resembling a tern in appearance, it has almost all-white plumage with a black mask and a red bill. The sexes have similar plumage. As referenced in the common name, adults have red tail streamers that are about twice their body length. Four subspecies are recognised, but there is evidence of clinal variation in body size—with smaller birds in the north and larger in the south—and hence no grounds for subspecies.
Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
02 · Where
Where to find it
- Breeding range
- TrO, IO, PO : tropical and subtropical islands of South Indian and Pacific oceans
- Non-breeding range
- Pelagic; to waters off south-east Africa, south-west and east Indonesia, south Japan, Taiwan, east Australia
03 · When
When to look
Months this species is recorded across its Australian range.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
05 · Behaviour
Habits and haunts
06 · Gallery
Plumage up close
4 photos
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