White-tailed Tropicbird vs Red-tailed Tropicbird
Phaethon lepturus compared with Phaethon rubricauda
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-tailed Tropicbird | Red-tailed Tropicbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phaethon lepturus | Phaethon rubricauda |
| Order | Phaethontiformes | Phaethontiformes |
| Family | Phaethontidae | Phaethontidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 53.9 cm (21.2 in) | 66.1 cm (26.0 in) |
| Weight | 399.0 g (14.07 oz) | 599.0 g (21.13 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Conservation Status
Least Concern
White-tailed Tropicbird
Least Concern
Red-tailed Tropicbird
About These Birds
White-tailed Tropicbird
White-tailed Tropicbird, 37–40 cm plus 35–40 cm tail streamers, is the smallest and most widespread tropicbird, distributed across all tropical oceans. White with black eye-stripe, black carpal bar, yellow bill, extremely long white tail streamers. Plunge-dives for fish and squid. Graceful flight over warm open seas.
Red-tailed Tropicbird
Red-tailed Tropicbird, 45–56 cm plus 30–35 cm red tail streamers, is the most distinctive tropicbird, found across the Indo-Pacific. Almost pure white with a red bill and the distinctive red tail. Plunge-dives for flying fish and squid over warm tropical waters. Breeds on coral islands; mostly pelagic otherwise.