Red-billed Tropicbird
Red-billed TropicbirdRed-billed TropicbirdRed-billed TropicbirdRed-billed Tropicbird

Red-billed Tropicbird

Phaethon aethereus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Machalilla National Park
160 Verified records at Machalilla National Park
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The red-billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) is a tropicbird, one of three closely related species of seabird of tropical oceans. Superficially resembling a tern in appearance, it has mostly white plumage with some black markings on the wings and back, a black mask and, as its common name suggests, a red bill. Most adults have tail streamers that are about two times their body length, with those in males being generally longer than those in females. The red-billed tropicbird itself has three subspecies recognized, including the nominate. The subspecies mesonauta is distinguished from the nominate by the rosy tinge of its fresh plumage, and the subspecies indicus can be differentiated by its smaller size, more restricted mask, and more orange bill. This species ranges across the tropical Atlantic, eastern Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Wikipedia →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Red-billed Tropicbird sighting in Machalilla National Park, based on 160 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
5–10
Feb
20–30
Mar
10–20
Apr
10–20
May
20–30
Jun
30–40
Jul
20–30
Aug
10–20
Sep
10–20
Oct
30–40
Nov
5–10
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Galápagos Islands 🇪🇨 Ecuador
30–40%
2 Machalilla National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
10–20%
3 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
4 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
5 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
6 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
7 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
8 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
9 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
10 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
11 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
12 Main Ridge Forest Reserve 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
Insufficient data
13 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
14 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
15 Tayrona National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
16 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Red-billed Tropicbird in Machalilla National Park?

About 18% of wildlife watchers report a Red-billed Tropicbird sighting in Machalilla National Park, based on 160 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Red-billed Tropicbird in Machalilla National Park?

November has the highest sighting rate for Red-billed Tropicbird in Machalilla National Park in our monthly data.

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