Meet the Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) Their most famous feature is the… (2/3)

JAN 20 2026 · 19:11

Meet the Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) 🏹🐦 ✨ Their most famous feature is the two slender, bright red tail streamers, which can grow to twice the length of their body. 🤿They are expert plunge-divers. To catch their favourite meal (flying fish and squid), they soar high before tucking their wings and diving deep into the waves. 👣 These birds are thought to be monogamous, and they nest in “scrapes” on cliff faces, crevices, or on the ground. 🐣 Only 1 egg is laid and then incubated by both the male and female. ☀️ Their genus names come from Ancient Greek, where “phaethon” means “sun”, and the species names comes from Latin “ruber” which means “red” Keep an eye out for those red streamers next time you’re out exploring! 🚩✨ 📸 Photo credits: Slide 1: Simon Watkins Slide 2: provided by Allen Commettant. Slide 3: @evileyelander