Red-billed tropicbird
Phaethon aethereus
The red-billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) is a tropicbird, one of three closely related species of seabird of tropical oceans.
About the Red-billed tropicbird
The red-billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) is a tropicbird, one of three closely related species of seabird of tropical oceans. Superficially resembling a tern in appearance, it has mostly white plumage with some black markings on the wings and back, a black mask and, as its common name suggests, a red bill. Most adults have tail streamers that are about two times their body length, with those in males being generally longer than those in females. The red-billed tropicbird itself has three subspecies recognized, including the nominate. The subspecies mesonauta is distinguished from the nominate by the rosy tinge of its fresh plumage, and the subspecies indicus can be differentiated by its smaller size, more restricted mask, and more orange bill. This species ranges across the tropical
Fun Facts About Red-billed tropicbird
- It was one of the many species described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.
- This bird is considered to be a least-concern species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), though populations are thought to be declining.
- The subspecies mesonauta is distinguished from the nominate by the rosy tinge of its fresh plumage, and the subspecies indicus can be differentiated by its smaller size, more restricted mask, and more orange bill.
- Superficially resembling a tern in appearance, it has mostly white plumage with some black markings on the wings and back, a black mask and, as its common name suggests, a red bill.
- Nesting takes place in loose colonies, as they nest a scrape found on a cliff face that is easy to take off from.
Conservation Status
The Red-billed tropicbird is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. This species is currently stable and not at significant risk of population decline.
Taxonomy & Classification
| Order | Saurischia |
| Family | Phaethontidae |
| Genus | Phaethon |
| Species | Phaethon aethereus |
Range & Habitat
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Other species in the Phaethontidae family: