NCI 2024
    Groups
    Mammals Birds Amphibians Reptiles Petromyz' – Lampreys Sharks & rays Myxini – Hagfishes Dipneusti – Lungfish Gastropoda – Snails & slugs Coelac' – Coelacanths Malacostraca – Malacostracans Insecta – Insects / bugs Bivalvia – Marine molluscs Pycnogonida – Sea spiders Animals Holocep' – Chimaeras Chilopoda – Centipedes Cephalopoda – Squids & octopuses Merostomata – Horseshoe crabs Arachnida – Spiders & scorpions Diplopoda – Millipedes Ray-finned fishes More Classes
    Filters

    Regions

    See AllSelect

    Habitat

    See AllSelect

    Red-billed tropicbird

      Saved In:

    Professional marine forecasters to optimize breeding success and prey availability

    Dominic Sherony








      Saved In:


    Red-billed tropicbird

    EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE

    Professional marine forecasters to optimize breeding success and prey availability

    Population 16,000 – 30,000

    With its streamlined body, predominantly white plumage, and long, ribbon-like tail feathers, it is a distinctive sight soaring above tropical and subtropical oceans. As one of the three species in the genus Phaethon, they are most recognizable by their bright red bill, which sharply contrasts with their soft white feathers.

    Inhabiting regions where food availability can be unpredictable due to the ever-changing marine environment, these birds have developed remarkable adaptations. They have the agility and speed to catch flying fish and squid that skim the ocean’s surface, often engaging in dramatic aerial pursuits that showcase their flying prowess.

    Red-billed Tropicbirds are selective about their breeding sites, often choosing inaccessible cliffs and islets that provide protection from predators and human disturbance. They breed in loose colonies where each pair lays a single white egg in a scrape or crevice, sometimes lined with feathers. The location of their nests, typically on high cliffs, allows for easy takeoff and landing — essential for a bird so adept in the air.

    The incubation period for a Red-billed Tropicbird is around 42 days, with both parents sharing the duty of warming the egg. The chick, once hatched, is brooded and fed by its parents and will fledge between 12 to 15 weeks of age. During this period, the chick grows rapidly, developing the skills and feathers necessary for flight.

    Distribution

    Country
    Population est.
    Status
    Year
    Comments
    Angola
    2019
    Vagrant
    Anguilla
    2019
    Antigua & Barbuda
    2019
    Bahamas
    2019
    Bahrain
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Barbados
    2019
    Belize
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Benin
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Bermuda
    2019
    Vagrant
    Bonaire Sint Eustatius And Saba
    2019
    Brazil
    2019
    British Virgin Is.
    2019
    Cameroon
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Cape Verde
    2019
    Breeding
    Cayman Islands
    2019
    Chile
    2019
    China
    2019
    Breeding
    Colombia
    2019
    Congo-Brazzaville
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Costa Rica
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Cuba
    2019
    Curaçao
    2019
    Côte D’ivoire
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    DR Congo (Kinshasa)
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Djibouti
    2019
    Dominica
    2019
    Dominican Republic
    2019
    Ecuador
    2019
    Breeding: Galápagos
    Egypt
    2019
    El Salvador
    2019
    Equatorial Guinea
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Eritrea
    2019
    French Guiana
    2019
    French Polynesia
    2019
    Vagrant
    Gabon
    2019
    Vagrant
    Gambia
    2019
    Vagrant
    Ghana
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Grenada
    2019
    Breeding
    Guadeloupe
    2019
    Guatemala
    2019
    Origin Uncertain
    Guinea-Bissau
    2019
    Guinea
    2019
    Guyana
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Haiti
    2019
    Honduras
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    India
    2019
    Vagrant
    Iran
    2019
    Iraq
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Israel
    2019
    Vagrant
    Jamaica
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Jordan
    2019
    Vagrant
    Kuwait
    2019
    Non-Breeding
    Liberia
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Madagascar
    2019
    Vagrant
    Malaysia
    2019
    Vagrant
    Maldives
    2019
    Martinique
    2019
    Mauritania
    2019
    Vagrant
    Mexico
    2019
    Montserrat
    2019
    Myanmar
    2019
    Vagrant
    Netherlands
    2019
    Vagrant
    Nicaragua
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Nigeria
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Oman
    2019
    Pakistan
    2019
    Panama
    2019
    Peru
    2019
    Portugal
    2019
    Breeding
    Puerto Rico
    2019
    Qatar
    2019
    Saint Helena
    2019
    Breeding
    Saint Lucia
    2019
    Saint Martin
    2019
    French Part
    Saint Vincent
    2019
    Saudi Arabia
    2019
    Senegal
    2019
    Breeding
    Seychelles
    2019
    Vagrant
    Sint Maarten
    2019
    Dutch Part
    Somalia
    2019
    South Africa
    2019
    Vagrant
    Spain
    2019
    Vagrant: Canary Is.
    Sri Lanka
    2019
    Vagrant
    St. Kitts & Nevis
    2019
    Sudan
    2019
    Non-Breeding
    Suriname
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    São Tomé & Príncipe
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Togo
    2019
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Trinidad & Tobago
    2019
    Turks & Caicos
    2019
    UAE
    2019
    Breeding
    US Virgin Islands
    2019
    United Kingdom
    2019
    Vagrant
    United States
    2019
    Vagrant: Hawaiian Is.
    Venezuela
    2019
    Vietnam
    2019
    Vagrant
    Yemen
    2019

    Anything we've missed?

    Help us improve this page by suggesting edits. Glory never dies!

    Suggest an edit

    Get to know me

    Terrestrial / Aquatic

    Altricial / Precocial

    Polygamous / Monogamous

    Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

    Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

    Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Colony

    Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

    Migratory: Yes / No

    Domesticated: Yes / No

    Dangerous: Yes / No

    EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE
    Least Concern(IUCN)
    World Population 16,000 – 30,000
    Honorary Patron: BioDB
    Become a Patron

    Threats

    Habitat destruction / Climate change / Freshwater pollution / Marine pollution / Deforestation / Farming / Fishing practices / Poaching & wildlife trade / Invasive species / Parasites & diseases / Noise pollution / Light pollution

    My ID

    Scientific name: Phaethon aethereus Number of subspecies: 3 Name of subspecies:

    P. a. aethereus
    P. a. indicus
    P. a. mesonauta

    Physical traits

    Length: 90 – 105 cm (35 – 41 in) Weight: 750 g (26 oz) Lifespan: 16 – 30 years Speed: 44 km/h (27 mph) Wingspan: 99 – 106 cm (39 – 42 in) Incubation: 6 weeks Eggs: 1 egg
    Habitats: Coastal Marine
    Regions: Africa Asia Europe North America Oceania South America
    Add to my list
      Saved In: