Birds of North America Home Page

Field Guide for all the Birds of North America


Tropicbirds

Phaétons

Phaethontidae

Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities


North American Bird Search Box

There are three types of tropicbird species living on the oceans. The White-tailed Tropicbird and the Red-billed Tropicbird are the most abundant. These two species are found in the southern regions of the Atantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean surrounding North America and throughout the Caribbean islands. tropicbirds The Red-tailed Tropicbird has the smallest population. This tropicbird is found in the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.

All three species are pelagic seabirds living out in the oceans away from landmasses, except when nesting or raising their young. Tropicbirds are recognized by their rapid wingbeats, their long streaming tail feather, long pointed wings and mostly white plumage.

Click on the bird images or names to see pictures of the Tropicbirds
Red-tailed Tropicbird

References to Other Bird Sites:

Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.

ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.

I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.


Classic Collection of North American Birds

CCNAB