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To the Beauty of Birds

While in flight the long tail of the Red-billed Tropic Bird Phaethon aethereus is distinctive as is the red bill that gives it its name.

The red-billed tropicbird occurs in the tropical Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Indian Ocean race, P. a. indicus, was at one time considered a full species, the lesser red-billed tropicbird from Pakistan and western India. It breeds on tropical islands laying a single egg directly onto the ground or a cliff ledge. Breeding in the Western Palaearctic occurs on the Cape Verde Islands and attempted breeding on the Îles des Madeleines off Senegal. Total numbers in 2000 were probably less than 150 pairs.

It disperses widely when not breeding, and sometimes wanders far, including five records from Great Britain. In July 2005, one was found in eastern New Brunswick, Canada, and another sighting at Matinicus Rock, Maine. There was confirmed sighting on Lord Howe Island near Australia in November 2010.

The adult is a slender, mainly white bird, 48 cm long, excluding the central tail feathers which double the total length, and a one-metre wingspan. The long wings have black markings on the flight feathers. There is black through the eye. The bill is red. Sexes are similar, although males average longer tails. Juveniles lack the tail streamers, are greyer-backed, and have a yellow bill. P. a. indicus has a reduced black eye stripe, and a more orange-tinted bill. Its wind are made up of very large feather coat. They feed on fish and squid, but are poor swimmers.

The 9000 series photos were taken on the Island of Espanolia in the Galapagos.
The 4000 series photos were taken in the Caribbean. The Red-billed Tropic Bird is present at certain locations throughout the Lesser Antilles. All of these, except 4639, were photographed from atop the Great Bird Island north of Antigua. The long streaking tail feathers contribute to the birds majestic beauty. A close-up shows the prominent red beak from which it derives its name. Photo 4639 was taken at the north end of St. Barts on the hiking trail leading to the Anse a Colombier beach.
Photos in the 100 to 300 series were taken on Little Tobago.

Red-billed Tropic Bird