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Posted by Rock Jetty on 23:01:02 07/03/06
In Reply to: Pelagics Off Miami, 7/3 posted by Toe
Guys, I hate asking this but I have to:
Could this bird be a Red-billed Tropicbird (RBT) instead?
We all got caught up in the excitement (I know I did) and we seemed pretty sure that this bird was a White-tailed Tropicbird (WTT). Remember this bird flew directly over us and Trey could not get a picture of its dorsal side. Now, speaking for myself, I've had zero experience with any of the three tropicbirds. I know Paul Bithorn has some and so I ask him to look at the photos carefully (not just the two that were posted but the rest).
Here's the deal:
It is obvious that the bird photographed has a yellow bill, but both the WTT's and the RBT's have yellow bills when juvenile and subadult. The size is relative, there's nothing to compare it to and we wouldn't be looking for a disproportionally large bill as say with a Red-tailed Tropicbird. I've searched images for several hours now and read literature which states the lack of knowledge on tropicbird plumages...what a shame. I've come across several images of subadult RBT's that match our bird, for example one off of North Carolina (just google it). Of course THAT bird could have been misidentified. That bird also exhibits the same black spot at the base of the tail as our bird. I haven't been able to see another photo online witht that field mark.
Even though our bird is shown from a ventral view, it looks like the primary coverts could also be black. The photos I've seen of the WTT show an abrupt contrast between the black primaries and the white primary coverts, even when viewed from below. All I remember seeing of the bird's dorsal side is 'black on the tips'. Another field mark I did not think of looking at was to see if the black eyeline went across the nape (RBT's).
Do any of you remember any of these field marks? How about the barring on the bird's back? I'm not trying to make the bird into something else. I just want everyone else's (everyone who was there) input on this and anyone with tropicbird experience can chip in also. I need to be sure!
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