Bird

White-tailed Tropicbird

Phaethon lepturus

Also known as Yellow-billed Tropicbird, Longtail, White Tropicbird

White-tailed tropicbirds spend most of their lives soaring gracefully over warm ocean waters, hovering high above the waves before plunge-diving for prey. During the breeding season, pairs execute breathtaking aerial courtship displays, flying in synchronized swoops while fluttering their long white tail streamers. They nest in dark crevices on rocky cliffs or tropical islets, returning to the same site year after year to raise a single chick.

SeabirdOceanicPelagic

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Least ConcernConservation status

Key facts

Diet & preyFlying Fish, Squid, Crabs

Predators

Feral Cats
Rats
Large Raptors

ThreatsInvasive island predators (rats, feral cats), severe storms, and habitat degradation

HabitatsTropical oceans, pelagic waters, offshore islets, and coastal cliffs

Life span15–30 years

Classification

FamilyPhaethontidae
SpeciesPhaethon lepturus

Range & activity

Range data is not available yet.

Safe observation

Interaction riskLow

Low
Moderate
High
Very high

Why interaction risk is low: Possesses a strong, sharp bill that can deliver a severe bite if nesting crevices are approached.
What to notice: Recognizable by gleaming white plumage, black diagonal wing bars, a yellow-orange bill, and long tail feathers.
Support conservation: Keep clear of cliff edges and nest sites; observe silently from a safe distance without disturbing brooding birds.

Responsible observation

Observation: View nesting cliffs with binoculars or a spotting scope from established trails.
Nest Protection: Avoid reaching into dark cliff crevices or burrows on island breeding grounds.

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