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.
These seabirds are sensitive to changes in sea surface temperatures, which can affect the abundance of their prey. Warmer waters often lead to a decrease in the availability of flying fish and squid, compelling the tropicbirds to spend more time foraging and less time at the nest tending to their offspring. In some cases, this can lead to a delay in breeding or the egg-laying process, as the birds must ensure that the conditions are favorable enough to raise a chick successfully.
Distribution
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Bahamas
Bahrain
Barbados
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bonaire Sint Eustatius And Saba
Brazil
British Virgin Is.
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Chile
China
Colombia
Congo-Brazzaville
Costa Rica
Cuba
Curaçao
Côte D’ivoire
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guatemala
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
India
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Jamaica
Jordan
Kuwait
Liberia
Madagascar
Malaysia
Maldives
Martinique
Mauritania
Mexico
Montserrat
Myanmar
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Peru
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Saint Helena
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Vincent
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Seychelles
Sint Maarten
Somalia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Kitts & Nevis
Sudan
Suriname
São Tomé & Príncipe
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
Turks & Caicos
UAE
US Virgin Islands
United Kingdom
United States
Venezuela
Vietnam
YemenAnything we've missed?
Help us improve this page by suggesting edits. Glory never dies!
Suggest an editGet 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
