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Red-billed Tropicbird
Phaethon aethereus
Range & Recent Observations
Last Spotted Near You
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.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Phaethon aethereus
- Family
- Tropicbirds
- Order
- Phaethontiformes
Similar species
Other members of the tropicbirds family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
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Optics
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