Photo: Dreizung / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-tailed Tropicbird
Phaethon lepturus
White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) is a member of the Phaethontidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 328 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Phaethontiformes
- Family Phaethontidae Tropicbirds
- Genus Phaethon
- Species lepturus
Where it lives
TrO widespread all tropical oceans (except eastern Pacific and northeastern Atlantic)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 328 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Phaethontidae
- Order
- Phaethontiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-tailed Tropicbird hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The White-tailed Tropicbird is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) is a species of bird in the Phaethontidae family, part of the order Phaethontiformes. It is found across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers TrO widespread all tropical oceans (except e Pacific and ne Atlantic).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 328 g, with a wing length of about 26.9 cm and a tail of around 10.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 88,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-tailed Tropicbird?
The White-tailed Tropicbird is a large bird that weighs around 328 g.
Where does the White-tailed Tropicbird live?
The White-tailed Tropicbird is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering TrO widespread all tropical oceans (except e Pacific and ne Atlantic), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the White-tailed Tropicbird belong to?
The White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) belongs to the Phaethontidae family, in the order Phaethontiformes.
What does the White-tailed Tropicbird eat?
The White-tailed Tropicbird hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the White-tailed Tropicbird migrate?
The White-tailed Tropicbird is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the White-tailed Tropicbird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the White-tailed Tropicbird make?
1 real field recording of the White-tailed Tropicbird — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-tailed Tropicbird's range?
The White-tailed Tropicbird has a mapped global range of about 88,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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