White-tailed Tropicbird
Phaethon lepturus
A medium-sized white seabird with black marks on the wings and a yellow beak. The long white tail streamers are visible from a great distance. Nests on coastal and inland cliffs on the main islands. Often seen flying over canyons and along cliffs. At sea usually flies high above the water. Calls are loud clucks and squawks. Smaller and more graceful in flight than Red-tailed Tropicbird.
识别特征
The adult white-tailed tropicbird is a slender, mainly white bird, 71–80 cm long including the very long central tail feathers, which double its total length. The wingspan is 89–96 cm. The bird has a black band on the inner wing, a black eye-mask, and an orange-yellow to orange-red bill. The bill colour, pure white back and black wing bar distinguish this species from the red-billed tropicbird.<p>The white-tailed tropicbird breeds on tropical islands, laying a single egg directly onto the ground or a cliff ledge. It disperses widely across the oceans when not breeding, and sometimes wanders far. It feeds on fish and squid, caught by surface plunging, but this species is a poor swimmer. The call is a high screamed keee-keee-krrrt-krrt-krrt. Sexes are similar, although males on average are longer tailed, but juveniles lack the tail streamers, have a green-yellow bill, and a finely barred back. The white-tailed tropicbird does not have a yearly breeding cycle; instead, breeding frequency depends on the climate and availability of suitable breeding sites. The bird can reproduce 10 months after the last successful breeding, or 5 months after an unsuccessful one.
分类信息
French zoologist François Marie Daudin described the white-tailed tropicbird in 1802.<p>"White-tailed tropicbird" has been designated the official name by the International Ornithologists' Union (IOC).<p>Its closest relative is the red-tailed tropicbird (P. rubricauda), the split between their ancestors taking place about four million years ago.<p>Six subspecies are recognised by the IOC:
- 学名
- Phaethon lepturus
- 命名信息
- Daudin, 1802
- 目
- Phaethontiformes
- 科
- Phaethontidae
- 属
- Phaethon
分布与栖息地
- 繁殖区
- TrO : widespread all tropical oceans (except e Pacific and ne Atlantic)
- 非繁殖区
- pelagic; to waters off e Africa, w, s Sri Lanka (w, n Indian Ocean), Indonesian Arch. and New Guinea waters, ec Australia (sw South Pacific) and Gulf Stream n to North Carolina (w North Atlantic)
- 迁徙
- Complete migrants
行为
The white-tailed tropicbird feeds mainly on flying fish, squid and crabs. It catches its prey by diving from height of up to 20 meters, as do gannets. However, flying fish are caught in flight. It usually feeds in pairs. Prey is often detected by hovering above the surface as the bird swallows it before taking off.
保护状况
Population trends are unknown. In Mexico it is not under any category of protection, and no specific conservation programs for these tropicbirds are known. However, the species is found in various conservation programs as an American waterfowl. It is recommended to conduct studies on the biology of this species at sea, as well as monitoring of breeding colonies. Globally it is considered a species of Least Concern.
- 种群趋势
- declining
照片
分布
鸟叫声
其他鸟类
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Psittacula krameri
Vibrantly bright green parakeet, frequently found in woodland, parks, and gardens, where it feeds mainly in trees. Nests in cavities, including holes in buildings. Easily overlooked if quiet, as the bright green plumage blends easily with foliage. Note the very long slender tail and bright red bill; male has narrow black-and-pink neck ring. Closely resembles the larger Alexandrine Parakeet, which has a wine-red patch on each shoulder. Like other parakeets, raucous and social, often appearing in noisy groups giving sharp screeching calls. Native to Africa and South Asia, introduced locally around the world, from Europe and the Caribbean to Japan and Hawaii.
Oriental Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus orientalis
In breeding range, this large, long-billed songster of expansive reedbeds can often be seen perched on top of a stalk belting its heart out, but on wintering grounds, it is more likely to be detected by a harsh, grating rattling from deep within the vegetation. Unremarkably plumaged, brown above, paler below, with a weak white supercilium and a short bristly crest, occasionally raised. Compare with other large reed warblers, especially Clamorous Reed Warbler.
New Caledonian Imperial-Pigeon
Ducula goliath
Enormous, long-tailed, mostly dark slaty-blue pigeon with dark rufous belly and vent. Tail dark chestnut at the base and dark gray towards the tip. Found throughout New Caledonia, preferring hilly or montane forest and most common in areas with high-quality habitat. Larger than any other pigeon or dove species on New Caledonia. Listen for its far-carrying low-pitched booming song, especially early in the morning.
开始您的观鸟之旅
在户外识别鸟类，并在下一次观察时随手查阅鸟类图鉴。