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Guide to North American Birds

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Photo: Greg W. Lasley/Vireo

Red-billed Tropicbird

Phaethon aethereus

The only tropicbird likely to be seen off the California coast, but rare even there; sometimes seen on boat trips to the southern Channel Islands. Common in parts of the Caribbean, the Red-billed Tropicbird very rarely strays to waters off Florida or elsewhere in the east.
Family Tropicbirds
The only tropicbird likely to be seen off the California coast, but rare even there; sometimes seen on boat trips to the southern Channel Islands. Common in parts of the Caribbean, the Red-billed Tropicbird very rarely strays to waters off Florida or elsewhere in the east.
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Illustration © David Allen Sibley.
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Text © Kenn Kaufman, adapted from
Lives of North American Birds

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Songs and Calls
A loud rattling call given in flight.
Audio © Lang Elliott, Bob McGuire, Kevin Colver, Martyn Stewart and others.
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Red-billed Tropicbird In the News More News

This Mysterious Tropical Bachelor Likes to Summer in Maine
Birding

This Mysterious Tropical Bachelor Likes to Summer in Maine

For 15 years, a lone Red-billed Tropicbird has attracted visitors and researchers with his unusual habits and misguided mating attempts.

Read more

Explore Similar Birds

White-tailed Tropicbird

Phaethon lepturus

Red-tailed Tropicbird

Phaethon rubricauda

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