White-tailed tropicbird
Smallest tropicbird, known for its long tail and surface-plunging diet.
The white-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus), also known as the yellow-billed tropicbird, is the smallest of three closely related seabirds in the tropical oceans and the smallest member of the order Phaethontiformes. It is found in the tropical Atlantic, western Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and breeds on some Caribbean islands, with a few pairs recently nesting on Little Tobago. In Bermuda, it is locally called a 'longtail.'
- scientific_name
- Phaethon lepturus
- field
- Seabird
- order
- Phaethontiformes
- size
- 71–80 cm (28–31 in) including tail streamers
- wingspan
- 89–96 cm (35–38 in)
- conservation_status
- Least Concern (global)
- described_by
- François Marie Daudin (1802)
Lore & Background
French zoologist François Marie Daudin described the white-tailed tropicbird in 1802. Its closest relative is the red-tailed tropicbird (P. rubricauda), with their ancestors splitting about four million years ago. Six subspecies are recognized by the International Ornithologists' Union, including P. l. fulvus (golden bosun) on Christmas Island, which has a golden wash to its white plumage.
The adult is slender and mainly white, with a black band on the inner wing, a black eye-mask, and an orange-yellow to orange-red bill. It breeds on tropical islands, laying a single egg directly on the ground or a cliff ledge. It feeds on fish and squid caught by surface plunging, and its call is a high screamed 'keee-keee-krrrt-krrt-krrt.' Juveniles lack tail streamers and have a green-yellow bill and finely barred back.
In ancient Chamorro folklore, the bird was called utak or itak, and its scream over a house was believed to foretell death or an unmarried girl's pregnancy. Its call was said to kill anyone who did not believe in it. Chamorro fishermen would watch the birds to find schools of fish.
Reader's Guide
The white-tailed tropicbird is significant as the smallest member of its order and a widespread seabird across tropical oceans. Its breeding frequency is not yearly but depends on climate and site availability, allowing reproduction 10 months after a successful breeding or 5 months after an unsuccessful one. The species is considered of Least Concern globally, though population trends are unknown. In Mexico it has no specific protection, and no dedicated conservation programs exist, though it appears in broader waterfowl initiatives. Its folklore among the Chamorro people highlights cultural interactions with seabirds, where its call was both an omen and a tool for locating fish. The bird's ability to catch flying fish in flight and its poor swimming ability distinguish its foraging behavior. The six recognized subspecies reflect its wide distribution across the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans, including Bermuda and Caribbean islands.
Did You Know?
- The white-tailed tropicbird is the smallest member of the order Phaethontiformes.
- Its closest relative is the red-tailed tropicbird, with a split about four million years ago.
- In Bermuda it is locally called a 'longtail'.
- The ancient Chamorro people believed its call could kill anyone who did not believe in it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the White-tailed Tropicbird?
It is the smallest of the three tropicbird species, a tropical seabird classified in the order Phaethontiformes. You will also hear it called the yellow-billed tropicbird, and in Bermuda locals simply know it as a 'longtail.'
How big is the White-tailed Tropicbird?
From beak to the tip of its trailing tail streamers, it stretches roughly 71 to 80 cm, and its wingspan reaches about 89 to 96 cm. Even with those dramatic tail feathers, it stays the tiniest bird in the tropicbird family.
Where does the White-tailed Tropicbird live and breed?
Its range spans the tropical Atlantic, the western Pacific, and the Indian Oceans. Breeding colonies are found on select Caribbean islands, and a handful of pairs have only recently taken to nesting on Little Tobago.
How does the White-tailed Tropicbird hunt for food?
It feeds by plunging its head and upper body into the water's surface to snatch small fish and squid. This shallow, surface-dipping technique sets it apart from many other pelagic seabirds that chase prey at greater depths.
Is the White-tailed Tropicbird at risk of extinction?
Globally it carries a Least Concern status, reflecting stable populations across its broad tropical range. No single threat has currently tipped it into a higher-risk conservation category.
More in Birds of the Indian Ocean 1-24
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