Red-billed Tropicbird (us-RGV)
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Contents |
Regional Information
Range, Abundance, and Seasonal Variations
Records on S. Padre Island pelagic trips on 9/17/2005 [1], [2], and 9/24/2004 [3].
Directions and Maps
General Information
Size
Length: 48cm (18.9in) excluding the very long central tail feathers which double the total length. Wingspan: ??cm (??in).
Field Marks
Tern-sized. Adult: slender mainly white bird. Long wings with black outer primaries. Finely barred back. Dark eye patch sometimes extends across nape Red bill. Sexes similar. Male: averages 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. Adult has long white tail streamers and red bill. Immature: lacks tail streamers and has a yellow bill.
Similar species
Adult Red-billed Tropicbird is larger than White-tailed Tropicbird with a slower wingbeat and lacks black patches on upperwing. Immature Red-billed has less distinct barring on the back. Adult Red-tailed Tropicbird lacks barring on the back. Immature Red-tailed has less black on the nape and in the primaries.
Sounds
Feeding & Behavior
Feed on fish and squid, but are poor swimmers.
Habitat & Nesting
Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed. breeds on tropical islands laying a single egg directly onto the ground or a cliff ledge.
Range
Occurs in the tropical Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Indian Oceans. It disperses widely when not breeding
Resources
