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Red-Tailed Tropicbird

phaethon rubricauda

The Red-tailed Tropicbird, often considered one of the most striking seabirds, is a true master of the open ocean. Characterized by its brilliant white plumage and long, crimson tail streamers, this species spends the majority of its life soaring over the warm, tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Rather than relying on land, they only come ashore to breed, selecting remote oceanic islands and atolls to raise their young. Watching a Red-tailed Tropicbird in flight is a mesmerizing experience. They perform breathtaking, acrobatic aerial courtship displays, flying in synchronized circles while calling out to mates. Despite their aerial agility and prowess in plunge-diving for fish, they are incredibly awkward on land. Their legs are positioned so far back on their bodies that they cannot walk properly, instead awkwardly shuffling forward on their bellies to reach their nests.

Lebensraum: Exclusively marine and pelagic, they spend most of their lives over warm tropical oceanic waters, coming ashore only to nest on remote coral atolls and volcanic islands.

Aussehen

The Red-tailed Tropicbird is a medium-sized seabird primarily boasting bright white plumage that contrasts sharply with a black crescent-shaped mask extending through the eyes. Its most distinct feature is a pair of extremely elongated, thin, bright red central tail feathers, known as streamers, which can double the bird's overall length. They have a stout, bright red beak suited for catching fish, and subtle black shafts visible on their primary flight feathers. With a wingspan reaching up to 120 cm, they have a robust, somewhat chunky body shape in flight, setting them apart from other slender seabirds.

ReichAnimaliaStammChordataKlasseAvesOrdnungPhaethontiformesFamiliePhaethontidaeGattungPhaethon

Red-Tailed Tropicbird

Kategorie

Vögel

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

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Interessante Fakten

Because they lack a brood patch, they use their webbed feet, which are heavily supplied with blood vessels, to keep their single egg warm during incubation.

In Polynesian culture, the vibrant red tail feathers of this bird were highly prized and historically used for personal adornment and trade.

The red tail streamers of a Red-tailed Tropicbird can take up to 35 centimeters of their total body length.

They are known to fly hundreds of miles away from land and can remain at sea for months without ever touching solid ground.

Besondere Fähigkeiten

They can hover briefly 15 to 30 meters above the water before folding their wings and diving like a missile into the ocean to catch fish and squid.

Because their legs are positioned extremely far back on their bodies to aid in swimming, they cannot walk on two legs and must awkwardly push themselves forward on their bellies on land.

During mating season, they perform spectacular, synchronized aerial displays, involving high-speed chases, backward flight, and intricate vertical circles in the sky.

Maße und Details

Länge: 90-105 cm
Flügelspannweite: 100-120 cm
Gewicht: 0.6-0.85 kg
Lebenserwartung: 15-20 Jahre
Top Speed: 45 km/h
Gelegegröße: 1
Brutzeit: 40-50 Tage

Ernährung und Fütterung

The Red-tailed Tropicbird is a marine predator that feeds heavily on fish and cephalopods caught near the ocean's surface.

Altersunterschiede: Chicks are fed regurgitated, partially digested fish and squid until they fledge.

Hauptnahrung

Flying fish
Squid
Mackerel

Nahrungssuche

Plunge Diving

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

hunts

Tropical Two-wing Flyingfish

Exocoetus volitans

Primary prey species targeted during plunge-dives.

competitor

Great Frigatebird

Fregata minor

Often steals caught food from tropicbirds in mid-air via kleptoparasitism.

eaten by

Black Rat

Rattus rattus

Invasive predator that attacks ground nests and eats chicks.

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Sicherheit

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

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Häufig gestellte Fragen

Wie identifiziert man Red-Tailed Tropicbird?

Der einfachste Weg, Red-Tailed Tropicbird zu bestimmen, ist die Verwendung der Naturführer-App Snappit.

Was ist der/die/das länge von Red-Tailed Tropicbird?

90-105 cm

Was ist der/die/das flügelspannweite von Red-Tailed Tropicbird?

100-120 cm

Was ist der/die/das gewicht von Red-Tailed Tropicbird?

0.6-0.85 kg

Was ist der/die/das lebenserwartung von Red-Tailed Tropicbird?

15-20 Jahre

Was ist der/die/das top Speed von Red-Tailed Tropicbird?

45 km/h

Was frisst Red-Tailed Tropicbird?

The Red-tailed Tropicbird is a marine predator that feeds heavily on fish and cephalopods caught near the ocean's surface.

Wo findet man Red-Tailed Tropicbird normalerweise?

Exclusively marine and pelagic, they spend most of their lives over warm tropical oceanic waters, coming ashore only to nest on remote coral atolls and volcanic islands.