A roosting Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda)
Image details
Contributor:
David Hare / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
JR38TKFile size:
63.3 MB (3.4 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
5760 x 3840 px | 48.8 x 32.5 cm | 19.2 x 12.8 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
18 October 2014Location:
Easter Island, ChileMore information:
The red-tailed tropicbird was described by Dutch naturalist Pieter Boddaert in 1783 and still bears its original binomial name. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek phaethon, "sun" while the species epithet comes from the Latin words ruber "red" and cauda "tail". Its closest relative is the white-tailed tropicbird, with the split between their ancestors taking place about four million years ago. The red-tailed tropicbird looks like a stout tern, and hence closely resembles the other two tropicbird species. It has generally white plumage, often with a pink tinge, a black crescent around the eye and two thin red tail feathers. It has a bright red bill and black feet.