Red-billed Tropicbird

Overview

The red-billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) is a seabird of tropical oceans that superficially resembles a tern. It is one of three closely related species in the family Phaethontidae, distinguished by its red bill and white plumage.

Identification

• Mostly white plumage with black wing tips and finely barred black back, featuring a black mask extending from above the lores to the nape.
• Large size of 48 cm (19 in) excluding tail streamers, which are white and approximately twice the body length in adults.
• Bright red bill with orange-yellow legs and base of the central toe; the bill of the indicus subspecies is more orange with a black cutting edge.
• Loud, harsh kreeeee-kreeeee-kri-kri-kri-kr screams made near breeding colonies, and chicks may produce loud, piercing shrieks if disturbed.

Habitat

Found across the tropical Atlantic, eastern Pacific, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Neotropics. It nests in loose colonies on isolated cliff faces that allow for easy takeoff, while dispersing widely over the open sea when not breeding.

Diet

Feeds primarily on small fish and squid, which it catches by diving from heights of up to 40 metres into the water. It also frequently follows surface-feeding predators such as dolphins and tuna to seize prey driven to the surface.

Did you know?

The bird is known to be highly aggressive at nest sites, often fighting to oust other species such as shearwaters and petrels, and has even been recorded taking over the nests of white-tailed tropicbirds to raise their young if it failed to destroy their eggs.