The white-tailed tropicbird or yellow-billed tropicbird is a tropicbird. It is the smallest of three closely related seabirds of the tropical oceans and smallest member of the order Phaethontiformes. It is found in the tropical Atlantic, western Pacific and Indian Oceans. It also breeds on some Caribbean islands, and a few pairs have started nesting recently on Little Tobago, joining the red-billed tropicbird colony. In addition to the tropical Atlantic, it nests as far north as Bermuda, where it is locally called a "longtail".
Region
Tropical Atlantic, Indian, and western Pacific Oceans
Typical Environment
A strictly pelagic seabird away from the breeding season, it ranges widely over warm tropical waters. It nests on remote oceanic islands, rocky islets, and coastal cliffs, using crevices, burrows, or sheltered ledges. Breeding colonies occur in the Caribbean and Bermuda, across the Indian Ocean islands (e.g., Seychelles, Mascarenes), and parts of the western Pacific. Outside breeding, individuals disperse broadly over open sea but tend to remain in tropical waters near productive fronts and upwellings.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 600 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The white-tailed tropicbird is the smallest of the tropicbirds and is easily recognized by its long, ribbon-like white tail streamers and bright yellow bill. It breeds on tropical oceanic islands across the Atlantic, Indian, and western Pacific, including Bermuda where it’s known as the “longtail.” Adults often perform spectacular aerial courtship displays over colonies. They are long-lived for their size and show strong site fidelity to nesting crevices.
Flying at Midway Atoll
A pair in flight
In the Seychelles
Phaethon lepturus egg, MHNT
Temperament
solitary and territorial near nests; loosely social at sea
Flight Pattern
buoyant flier with long glides and agile, swift wingbeats; aerobatic around colonies
Social Behavior
Typically nests in scattered pairs or small colonies, using natural crevices, burrows, or ledges. Pairs are largely monogamous and perform elaborate aerial displays. Clutch size is usually a single egg, with both sexes sharing incubation and chick-rearing.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
At colonies it gives sharp, cackling chatters and rasping screeches, often in rapid series. In flight displays, calls can be piercing and carry far over surf and wind.
