Introduction

Red-billed tropicbirds are a common seabird throughout the Galapagos archipelago.  They are estimated to be a few thousand pairs in approximately 30 colonies.  They breed throughout the year and their favoured nesting sites tend to be in rocky crevices or on bare ground.

Identification

Adults are large in size and mainly white and have a bright red bill, yellow legs and very long, white tail streamers (46 - 56 cm).  They have a rather striking broad black eye stripe which extends back towards the nape.  They have very fine grey barring on their upperparts and during flight they show off their black primaries.  Juveniles are similar in appearance to the adult, but have a yellow bill and lack the beautiful tail streamers of the adult.

Voice

The red-billed tropicbird has a rather loud shrill rattle of a voice, "kree-kree-kree".

Behaviour

They feed by hovering and plunge-diving, which tends to be done far away from land.  In flight they appear graceful and have alternating fluttering wing beats with gliding.  They are often seen resting on the sea with their tails raised.