Red-billed tropicbird
Phaethon aethereus
Identification Tips:
- Sexes similar
- Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed
- Tern-sized
- White head and body
- Finely barred back
- Outer primaries black
- Dark eye patch sometimes extends across nape
Adult
- Long white tail streamers
- Red bill
Immature
- Lacks tail streamers
- 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.