A stunning seabird known for its elegant aerial displays and striking white plumage, contrasted by its long, streaming tail feathers and distinctive black markings on its wings. These birds are often seen gliding effortlessly above the open ocean, where they search for their prey of, squids, flying fish, and crustaceans.
During the breeding season, White-tailed Tropicbirds engage in captivating courtship rituals, where groups of birds perform intricate aerial maneuvers to attract potential mates. Once a pair forms a bond, they seek out a suitable nesting site, which can vary from rocky cliffs to tree bases or even ground burrows on remote islands and atolls.
Nesting sites are carefully chosen to provide protection from predators and the elements, ensuring the safety of the single egg laid by the female. Both parents take turns incubating the egg, which typically hatches after about 40 to 50 days. Once the chick emerges, it is cared for diligently by both parents, who regurgitate food to feed their offspring for up to 60 days until it is ready to fend for itself.
Despite their remarkable adaptations for life at sea, White-tailed Tropicbirds face numerous threats, primarily from human activities. Plastic pollution, in particular, poses a significant hazard, as these birds may ingest or become entangled in discarded fishing nets and other debris. Additionally, oil spills can have devastating effects on their populations, as contact with oil can impair their ability to fly and hunt for food, leading to reduced breeding success and increased mortality rates.
Invasive species, such as rats and feral cats, also pose a threat to White-tailed Tropicbirds and their nesting sites, as these predators can prey on eggs, chicks, and even adult birds. Habitat destruction and disturbance from human activities, including tourism and development, further compound the challenges facing these birds.
Distribution
American Samoa
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bonaire Sint Eustatius And Saba
Brazil
British Indian T.
British Virgin Is.
Cameroon
Canada
Cayman Islands
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Cocos Is. (Keeling)
Colombia
Comoros
Cook Islands
Cuba
Curaçao
Côte D’ivoire
Dominica
Dominican Republic
East Timor
Equatorial Guinea
Fiji
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Gabon
Ghana
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
India
Indonesia
Islands
Jamaica
Japan
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Malaysia
Maldives
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia
Montserrat
Mozambique
Myanmar
Nauru
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nigeria
Nort. Mariana Is.
Palau
Panama
Philippines
Puerto Rico
Réunion
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Helena
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Vincent
Seychelles
Sint Maarten
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Sri Lanka
St. Kitts & Nevis
Suriname
São Tomé & Príncipe
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad & Tobago
Turks & Caicos
US Minor Is.
US Virgin Islands
United States
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Wallis & FutunaAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
