Red-Billed Tropicbird
Red-Billed Tropicbird Overview
The red-billed tropicbird breeds on tropical islands like Hawaii. Adult birds are slim and mainly white. They have long wings and a red bill. Adult males and females look similar, but males have longer tails. Juvenile birds have a yellow bill and a greyer back. In breeding season a single egg is laid in a nest on the ground or cliff edge. Their diet includes fish and squid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can Red-Billed Tropicbirds be found in Hawaii?
They breed on remote tropical islands, including some in the Hawaiian chain. They are most often seen flying offshore or nesting on isolated cliff ledges.
What does a Red-Billed Tropicbird look like?
Adults are sleek, mostly white seabirds with long wings, a vivid red bill, and long tail streamers. Juveniles have a yellow bill and grayer upperparts.
Do male and female Red-Billed Tropicbirds look different?
Males and females look similar, though males typically have longer tail streamers, which are used in aerial courtship displays.
How many eggs do they lay?
Red-Billed Tropicbirds lay a single egg per breeding season. The egg is usually laid in a nest on a cliff ledge or directly on the ground in a sheltered location.
What do Red-Billed Tropicbirds eat?
Their diet consists mainly of fish and squid, which they catch by plunge-diving into the ocean from the air.