**Pacific white-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus dorotheae)**

One of the most elegant seabirds of the tropical Pacific, instantly recognizable by its predominantly white plumage, contrasting black markings, and long white tail streamers.

Context

Numerous individuals were observed and photographed flying relatively high above various habitats, from forests and urban areas to coastal mangroves, on Pohnpei Island, Micronesia.

Field notes

Tropicbirds are among the most elegant of seabirds. Seen from below, their distinctive wing shape resembles an inverted “W”, while the color of their long, graceful tail streamers provides an immediate clue to their identification.

I took my first photographs while walking around the outskirts of Pohnpei’s capital, Kolonia. Several tropicbirds were flying overhead, but obtaining good photographs proved difficult, as they rarely descended low enough for a satisfactory shot.

On Pohnpei, one of the best places to photograph seabirds such as tropicbirds and noddies is the steep trail leading up to the famous Sokehs Rock, not far from the airport. There, flying seabirds, including white terns and tropicbirds, can be observed and photographed almost at eye level. It is from this perspective that tropicbirds truly reveal their elegance.

Key facts

The white-tailed tropicbird has one of the widest distributions of any tropical seabird, occurring throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans, as well as parts of the tropical Atlantic. The subspecies dorotheae is found across much of Micronesia and several other Pacific island groups.

Tropicbirds spend most of their lives at sea, feeding primarily on flying fish, squid, and small pelagic fishes captured near the ocean surface. Much of what is known about their behavior comes from studies conducted at nesting sites.

The species is famous for its elongated central tail feathers, which can exceed the length of the body in adult birds. These streamers are believed to play an important role in courtship displays and mate selection.

Conservation

The species is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Although its global population is considered relatively stable, some local populations are quite small. Comprehensive population estimates remain unavailable for many island populations and subspecies.

Tropicbirds may appear relatively secure at a global level, but the effects of several potential threats, including climate change, pollution, and pesticide exposure, have yet to be studied in sufficient detail.

The introduction of rats has caused severe population declines in numerous seabird species, including tropicbirds. In Puerto Rico, for example, formerly numerous breeding colonies have reportedly been reduced to only a few pairs in some areas. Habitat alteration at breeding sites can also lead to the collapse of entire colonies.