White-tailed Tropicbird

Phaethon lepturus

Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island IMG_4081 20190222 - fulvus The Golden Bosunbird.

Notes: Bold black marks across spread wings, yellowish bill, long white or golden tail streamers.
Black patch through eye & to just above gape, black panel on outer primaries. Cf much larger Red-
tailed Tropicbird. White morph widespread; includes nominate lepturus & ~7% of Christmas Island
ssp fulvus. Nominate mainly white, largest. Ssp fulvus mainly rich golden apricot instead of white.
Ssp dorotheae bill yellow-green; smallest. Solitary in pelagic waters, plunge-dives for fish & squid.

Range based on eBird© maps (last 10 years)