White-tailed Tropicbird
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelicanformes
Family: Phaethontidae
Genus: Phaethon
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelicanformes
Family: Phaethontidae
Genus: Phaethon
Tropic white-tailed birds are the smallest in the species. They are known as ‘Longtail’ in Bermuda. This bird considered as the national bird of Bermuda. Phaethon lepturus (binomial nomenclature) can be found across Indian Ocean, Western, Central Pacific, also the tropical and sub-tropical parts of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean. This bird only comes to the shore when breeding.
Even though they’re the smallest in the species, but they are relatively large. Adults white-tailed tropicbird can measure up to 30 inches including their greatly elongated tail streamers. Their wingspan reaches 90 to 95 cm. They also have black mask in the eye that extend towards the gape. The color of its bill is yellow to orangish. These birds has black diagonal stripe across their upper wings. Its legs and feet are yellowish with black webbing. Furthermore, young white-tailed tropicbird almost doesn't have tail streamers and has a finely barred back.
Both male and female white-tailed tropicbird incubated a single for 13 days. But some of them needs more time and may incubated for 40 to 43 days. After hatched, the chicks are left alone in the nest while their parents at the sea. After 70-85 days in the nest they are able to join the adults. With their long wingspan Phaeton lepturus feed on fish, some crustaceans, and squids. These birds are able to catch and eat up to 18% of their body weight. Unlike any other pelicaniformes they give food to their chicks by putting their bills down the gaping of chick’s throat.
Written By: Dea Ghaniya
Even though they’re the smallest in the species, but they are relatively large. Adults white-tailed tropicbird can measure up to 30 inches including their greatly elongated tail streamers. Their wingspan reaches 90 to 95 cm. They also have black mask in the eye that extend towards the gape. The color of its bill is yellow to orangish. These birds has black diagonal stripe across their upper wings. Its legs and feet are yellowish with black webbing. Furthermore, young white-tailed tropicbird almost doesn't have tail streamers and has a finely barred back.
Both male and female white-tailed tropicbird incubated a single for 13 days. But some of them needs more time and may incubated for 40 to 43 days. After hatched, the chicks are left alone in the nest while their parents at the sea. After 70-85 days in the nest they are able to join the adults. With their long wingspan Phaeton lepturus feed on fish, some crustaceans, and squids. These birds are able to catch and eat up to 18% of their body weight. Unlike any other pelicaniformes they give food to their chicks by putting their bills down the gaping of chick’s throat.
Written By: Dea Ghaniya