From Opus

Photo by Steve G
Location: Little Tobago Island, Tobago

Phaethon lepturus

[edit] Identification

71-80 cm long including the very long central tail feathers, which double its total length. Pure white back, black band on inner wing, black through the eye, orange-yellow to orange red bill. Sexes are similar, although males average longer tailed, but juveniles lack the tail streamers, have a green-yellow bill, and a finely barred back.

[edit] Distribution

The tropical Atlantic, western Pacific and Indian Oceans. It also breeds on some Caribbean islands.

[edit] Taxonomy

There are five subspecies:

• P. l. lepturus – Indian Ocean.

• P. l. fulvus (Golden Bosun) – Christmas Island. This form has a golden wash to the white plumage.

• P. l. dorotheae – tropical Pacific.

• P. l. catesbyi – Bermuda and Caribbean.

• P. l. ascensionis – Ascension Island

[edit] Habitat

Open seas and islands.

[edit] Behaviour

It lays a single egg directly onto the ground or a cliff ledge.

The diet includes fish and squid, caught by surface plunging.

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages
• View more images of this species on the ABID