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White-tailed Tropicbird by dirkr, Shutterstock

The graceful, streamer-tailed White-tailed Tropicbird is built for life on the wing. Its taxonomic name, Phaethon, is the ancient Greek word for sun and refers to the young charioteer who dared drive the chariot of the sun god high over the ocean.     

The species is widespread in the tropics, found as five subspecies around the world. With long, narrow wings and an aerodynamic shape, this bird can remain in flight for long periods of time; like other pelagic birds such as Laysan Albatross and Great Frigatebird, it comes to land only when nesting.

Sailors sometimes refer to tropicbirds as "bosun" (boatswain) birds because of their shrill, repeated calls, thought to resemble a boatswain's whistle.

Get more facts about the White-tailed Tropicbird​ >>

 

Photo: White-tailed Tropicbird by dirkr, Shutterstock; range map: NatureServe

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