* White-tailed Tropicbird  Phaethon lepturus

Texas Coastal / Offshore Status: One Documented Record,, 3 July 2010, Padres Island National Seashore. Bird was injured/sick, recovered at rehab facility and released.

Similar Species: Red-billed Tropicbird can be distinguished from White-tailed Tropicbird in both adults and juvenile plumage by having black primary coverts. Compared to juvenile White-tailed, juvenile Red-billed also has an eyeline that meets behind the nape and a more finely barred back.

Never Seen on Texas Pelagic trip. Accidental in Texas.
* Texas Review Species, requiring written or photographic documentation to TBRC. 

Seasonal Occurrence Graph

Texas Pelagics Sightings Distribution

This map shows the geographic distribution of White-tailed Tropicbird found in Offshore Texas (and Gulf of Mexico)
Click on the box in the upper left of the map to view the map legend.
Click on each sighting symbol and the data label will appear showing the time, date and the number of birds seen.
Click on the symbol on the top right of the map to view a larger map.

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