Red-billed Tropicbird
Tropicbirds ... Tropic Bird Photo Gallery
The Red-billed Tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus, also known as the Boatswain Bird is a tropicbird, one of three closely related seabirds of tropical oceans.
The Indian Ocean race of the Red-billed Tropicbird, P. a. indicus, was at one time considered a full species, the Lesser Red-billed Tropicbird.
The Red-billed Tropicbird is set to be featured on the currency of Bermuda, despite having a negligible presence there. The bird was selected over Bermuda's national bird, the endemic Bermuda Petrel, and the native White-tailed Tropicbird.[1] The story was carried globally by the Associated Press.[2]
Distribution / Range
It occurs in the tropical Alantic, eastern Pacific and Indian Oceans. It disperses widely when not breeding, and sometimes wanders far, including an amazing record from Great Britain. One has recently been found in eastern Nova Scotia, Canada. They feed on fish and squid, but are poor swimmers
Nesting / Breeding
The Red-billed Tropicbird breeds on tropical islands laying a single egg directly onto the ground or a cliff ledge .
Description
The adult is a slender mainly white bird, 48cm long excluding the very long central tail feathers, which double the total length. The wingspan is about 1 metre, and the long wings have black markings on the flight feathers. There is black through the eye. The bill is red.
Sexes are similar, although males average longer tailed, but juveniles lack the tail streamers, are greyer-backed, and have a yellow bill.
P. a. indicus has a reduced black eyestripe, and a more orange-tinted bill.
References
- BirdLife International (2004). Phaethon aethereus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6
- Seabirds: An Identification Guide by Harrison, Peter ISBN 0-7470-1410-8
Copyright: Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.org.
Photo, Video and/or Article contributions are welcome! Please click here for info
The Avianweb strives to maintain accurate and up-to-date information; however, mistakes do happen. If you would like to correct or update any of the information, please send us an e-mail. THANK YOU!
