• Phaethontes Sharpe, R.B. 1891. A review of recent attempts to classify birds. 2nd International Ornithological Congress, Budapest. pp.1-90 pl. I-XII in Anonymous. 2nd International Ornithological Congress. Budapest : International Ornithological Congress pp. [76].

History of changes

• Phaethontidae Brandt, J.F. 1839. Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Naturgeschichte der Vögel mit besonterer Beziehung auf Skeletbau und vergleichende Zoologie. Mémoires de l'Académie Imperiale des Sciences de St. Petersbourg Ser. 6. Sci. Math. Phys. Nat. 58(2; Sci. Nat. 3): 91-237 + 18 plates [113] (Conserved in the Official List of Family-group Names in Zoology or in the Official List of Generic Names in Zoology. Op. 278) [original spelling].

  Type genus:

   Phaethon Linnaeus, 1758 [Phaëthon Linnaeus, 1758, Systema Naturae, Ed. 10, vol. 1, p. 134 (gender: masculine) (type species, by designation by Gray, 1840 (List Genera Birds: 80): Phaëthon aethereus Linnaeus, 1758, Systema Naturae, Ed. 10, vol. 1, p. 134) (Aves). Op. 67 phaeton, Papilio, Drury, [1773], Ill. nat. Hist., 1: index, 42, pl. 21, figs. 3, 4♀ (specific name of the type species of Euphydryas Scudder, 1872) (Insecta, Lepidoptera). Op. 278].

  Secondary source:

   Bock, W.J. 1994. History and nomenclature of avian family-group names. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 222: 1-281 [131].
• Phaetonidae Bonaparte, C.L. 1853. Classification ornithologique par series. Comptes Rendus de l'Academie des Sciences. Paris 37(18): 641-647 [643].

  Type genus:

   Phaëton Linnaeus, 1758.

Introduction

Phaethontidae (tropicbirds) is currently recognised as a family (Sangster 1997; Kennedy & Spencer 2003; Bourdon et al. 2005; and Christidis & Boles 2008) with, apparently, no close relatives. Previously they were included among the Pelecaniformes but, unlike members of that order, they lack a gular patch or sac. As the name implies the family has a nominally warm tropical to subtropical pelagic, migratory, distribution with three species in a single genus Phaeton. Two are represented in Australia as regular inhabitants and represented here by four subspecies. A third species, P. aethereus, has recently been identified on Lord Howe Island. Tropicbirds are highly mobile, travelling singly or in pairs. About their breeding grounds they occur in larger numbers. Vocalisations, described as ‘shrill screams’ or 'whistle and rasping’ are generally restricted to the vicinity of their nest. Tropicbirds are gregarious during courtship. Groups of six to 12 may gather when breeding; at sea they are generally seen alone or in pairs.

There are no sexual differences in plumage or morphology. Tropicbirds are medium sized, varying from 25-45 cm. Their wings are long and pointed and their legs and feet are short. Although the principal colour is white, it may carry lightly either a rose or apricot flush. Also there are small patches of black about the superciliary and orbit, tail shafts and flight feathers. Immatures have fine barring across the back. Each species has long and attenuate red or white central tail streamers, red in P. rubicunda and white in P. lepturus, otherwise the tail is short and wedge shaped. These elongate streamers are used in courtship displays. The short legs are situated well back towards the tail and they are very poor walkers; able to move only by employing short sliding motions. The toes of all species are pamprodactyl and totipalmate, yet despite this toe webbing, all species swim poorly. Their slightly decurved, pointed and distinctively coloured bills appear large in comparison to the body; bill colouration varies between species, being yellow in P. lepturus or orange-red in the other species. They have variously patterned markings on the face, back, and wings, while their young are banded on the back with narrow black markings.

The diet of the group is confined to marine organisms (fish, squid, and crustaceans). Prey are obtained by the birds first hovering then diving, often from considerable heights. When not breeding the birds will regularly travel great distances from land in order to feed.

Tropicbirds nest offshore on either high, steep cliff ledges or cavities or in a scrape on the ground. No nest is constructed, the simple scrape being the extent to which the birds go. Larger species of the genus breed annually, while smaller species vary their breeding. A single egg forms the clutch which is incubated by either adult. The egg is ovoid, and has a buff base colour overlaid by red-brown to deep purple blotching. Both adults incubate the egg for a period of between 40 and 46 days and later attend to feeding and caring for the single nidicolous and altricial young which is clothed in grey to fawn down. The young remain in the nest until able to fly.

General References

Campbell, B. & Lack, E. (eds) 1985. A Dictionary of Birds. Calton : T. & A.D. Poyser xxx 670 pp.

Christidis, L. & Boles, W.E. 2008. Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 288 pp.

Harrison, C.J.O. 1978. Bird Families of the World. Oxford : Elsevier-Phaidon pp.

Kennedy, M. & Spencer, H.G. 2003. Phylogenies of the frigatebirds (Fregatidae) and tropicbirds (Phaethonidae), two divergent groups of the traditional order Pelecaniformes, inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 31: 31-38

Sangster, G. 1997. Species limits in flamingos, with comments on lack of consensus in taxonomy. Dutch Birding 19: 193-198

History of changes

• Phaethon Linnaeus, C. 1758. II. Hemiptera. pp. 434-457 in Linnaeus, C. Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundem classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentis, synonymis, locis. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiae : Laurentii Salvii Vol. 1 10 Edn., 824 pp. [134] [as Phaëthon].

  Type species:

   Phaethon aethereus Linnaeus, C., 1758 by subsequent designation, see Gray, G.R. 1840. A List of the Genera of Birds, with an indication of the typical species of each genus. London : R. & J.E. Taylor viii 80 pp. [Date published Apr 1840: published before Apr.] [80].

  Secondary source:

   Condon, H.T. 1975. Checklist of the Birds of Australia. Part 1 Non-Passerines. Melbourne : Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union xx 311 pp. [50]; Dorst, J. & Mougin, J-L 1979. Order Pelecaniformes. pp. 155-193 in Mayr, E. & Cottrell, G.W. Check-list of birds of the world. Cambridge, Massachusetts : Museum of Comparative Zoology Vol. 1 Edn 2, pp.xvii + 547. [155]; Tennyson, A.J.D. 2010. Order PHAETHONTIFORMES: Tropicbirds. pp.136-137 in Gill, B.G., Bell, B.D., Chambers, G.K., Medway, D.G., Palma, R.L., Scofield, R.P., Tennyson, A.J.D. & Worthy, T.H. Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. Wellington : Te Papa Press 4th Edn, 500 pp. [136].
• Phaeton Linnaeus, C. 1766. Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Holmiae [=Stockholm] : Laurentii Salvii, Tomus I. Regnum Animale(1) Editio duodecima, reformata [3 vols., 1766-68], 532 pp. [219] [emendation of Phaethon as Phaëton].

  Secondary source:

   Dorst, J. & Mougin, J-L 1979. Order Pelecaniformes. pp. 155-193 in Mayr, E. & Cottrell, G.W. Check-list of birds of the world. Cambridge, Massachusetts : Museum of Comparative Zoology Vol. 1 Edn 2, pp.xvii + 547. [155]; Tennyson, A.J.D. 2010. Order PHAETHONTIFORMES: Tropicbirds. pp.136-137 in Gill, B.G., Bell, B.D., Chambers, G.K., Medway, D.G., Palma, R.L., Scofield, R.P., Tennyson, A.J.D. & Worthy, T.H. Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. Wellington : Te Papa Press 4th Edn, 500 pp. [136].
• Lepturus Moehring, P.H.G. 1752. Avium genera. Aurica pp.88. [64].

  Type species:

   Phaethon aethereus Linnaeus, C., 1766 by subsequent designation, see Linnaeus, C. 1766. Classis III. Amphibia. pp. 347-393 in Linnaeus, C. Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Holmiae [=Stockholm] : Laurentii Salvii, Tomus I. Regnum Animale(1) Editio duodecima, reformata [3 vols., 1766-68], 532 pp. [219].

  Secondary source:

   Ogilvie-Grant, W.R. 1898. Steganopodes (Cormorants, Gannets, Frigate-birds, Tropic-birds, and Pelicans, Pygopodes (Divers and Grebes), Alcae (Auks), and Impennes (Penguins). pp.329-657 in Sharpe, R.B. & Ogilvie-Grant, W.R. Catalogue of the Plataleae, Herodiones, Steganopodes, Pygopodes, Alcae, and Impennes in the Collection of the British Museum. London : Trustees British Museum Vol. 26 pp. xvii + 687. [450].
• Lepturus Reichenbach, L. 1852. Avium Systema Naturale. Das Natürliche System der Vögel mit hundert Tafeln grössentheils Original-Abbildungen der bis jetzt entdeckten fast zwölfhundert typischen Formen. Leipzig : F. Hofmeister viii, 1-36, i-xxxi pp.; 100 pls. [Date published 1853] [vii].

  Type species:

   Lepturus edwardsii Reichenbach, H.G.L., 1853 (= Phaethon lepturus Daudin, 1802) by original designation.

  Secondary source:

   Condon, H.T. 1975. Checklist of the Birds of Australia. Part 1 Non-Passerines. Melbourne : Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union xx 311 pp. [50]; Tennyson, A.J.D. 2010. Order PHAETHONTIFORMES: Tropicbirds. pp.136-137 in Gill, B.G., Bell, B.D., Chambers, G.K., Medway, D.G., Palma, R.L., Scofield, R.P., Tennyson, A.J.D. & Worthy, T.H. Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. Wellington : Te Papa Press 4th Edn, 500 pp. [136].
• Phoenicurus Bonaparte, C.L.J.L. 1855. Note sur les Oiseaux des Isles Marquises, et particulièrement sur le genre nouveau Serbesius. Comptes Rendus (Hebdomadaires) des Séances de l'Academie des Sciences. Série D. Sciences Naturelles 41: 1109-1115 [1115].

  Type species:

   Phaethon rubricauda Boddaert, 1783 by monotypy.

  Secondary source:

   Condon, H.T. 1975. Checklist of the Birds of Australia. Part 1 Non-Passerines. Melbourne : Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union xx 311 pp. [50]; Tennyson, A.J.D. 2010. Order PHAETHONTIFORMES: Tropicbirds. pp.136-137 in Gill, B.G., Bell, B.D., Chambers, G.K., Medway, D.G., Palma, R.L., Scofield, R.P., Tennyson, A.J.D. & Worthy, T.H. Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. Wellington : Te Papa Press 4th Edn, 500 pp. [136].
• Scaeophaethon Mathews, G.M. 1913. New generic names, with some notes on others. Austral Avian Records 2(2-3): 55-62 [Date published 23 Oct 1913] [56] [as Scaeophaëthon].

  Type species:

   Phaethon rubricauda westralis Mathews, 1912 by original designation.

  Secondary source:

   Mathews, G.M. 1927. Systema Avium Australasianarum. A systematic list of the birds of the Australasian region. London : British Ornithologists' Union Pt 1 iv 426 pp. [234]; Condon, H.T. 1975. Checklist of the Birds of Australia. Part 1 Non-Passerines. Melbourne : Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union xx 311 pp. [50]; Tennyson, A.J.D. 2010. Order PHAETHONTIFORMES: Tropicbirds. pp.136-137 in Gill, B.G., Bell, B.D., Chambers, G.K., Medway, D.G., Palma, R.L., Scofield, R.P., Tennyson, A.J.D. & Worthy, T.H. Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. Wellington : Te Papa Press 4th Edn, 500 pp. [136].
• Leptophaethon Mathews, G.M. 1913. New generic names, with some notes on others. Austral Avian Records 2(2-3): 55-62 [Date published 23 Oct 1913] [56] [as Leptophaëthon].

  Type species:

   Phaethon lepturus dorotheae Mathews, G.M., 1913 by original designation.

  Secondary source:

   Mathews, G.M. 1927. Systema Avium Australasianarum. A systematic list of the birds of the Australasian region. London : British Ornithologists' Union Pt 1 iv 426 pp. [235]; Condon, H.T. 1975. Checklist of the Birds of Australia. Part 1 Non-Passerines. Melbourne : Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union xx 311 pp. [50]; Tennyson, A.J.D. 2010. Order PHAETHONTIFORMES: Tropicbirds. pp.136-137 in Gill, B.G., Bell, B.D., Chambers, G.K., Medway, D.G., Palma, R.L., Scofield, R.P., Tennyson, A.J.D. & Worthy, T.H. Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. Wellington : Te Papa Press 4th Edn, 500 pp. [136].

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic: NSW North Coast (NNC), Sydney Basin (SB), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ) ; NSW, Qld: Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), Riverina (RIV)

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Lord Howe Province (14), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Timor Province (2), Cape Province (20), Norfolk Island Province (21), Cocos (Keeling) Island Province (22), Christmas Island Province (23), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Northwest Transition (3), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7)

Other Regions

Christmas Island terrestrial & freshwater, Cocos (Keeling) Islands terrestrial & freshwater, Coral Sea Islands Territory, Lord Howe Island terrestrial & freshwater, Norfolk Island terrestrial & freshwater, Territory of Ashmore & Cartier Islands, Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater

History of changes

• Phaethon aethereus Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundem classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentis, synonymis, locis. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiae : Laurentii Salvii Vol. 1 10 Edn., 824 pp. [134].

Distribution

States

New South Wales

Extra Distribution Information

Vagrant, individuals recorded from Christmas Island, Indian Ocean, Ashmore Reef, Timor Sea, and Lord Howe Island, Tasman Sea, subspecies not confirmed; tropical, from eastern Pacific to western Indian Ocean (Baja California, Caribbean Sea, Tropical Atlantic, Arabian Sea), vagrant through Indo-west Pacific

IMCRA

Lord Howe Province (14), Timor Province (2), Christmas Island Province (23)

Other Regions

Christmas Island terrestrial & freshwater, Lord Howe Island terrestrial & freshwater, Territory of Ashmore & Cartier Islands

Distribution References

History of changes

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia

IBRA

NSW, Qld: Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), Riverina (RIV)

IMCRA

Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Lord Howe Province (14), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Timor Province (2), Cape Province (20), Norfolk Island Province (21), Cocos (Keeling) Island Province (22), Christmas Island Province (23), Northwest Transition (3), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Other Regions

Christmas Island terrestrial & freshwater, Cocos (Keeling) Islands terrestrial & freshwater, Coral Sea Islands Territory, Lord Howe Island terrestrial & freshwater, Norfolk Island terrestrial & freshwater, Territory of Ashmore & Cartier Islands, Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater

Common Name References

Anonymous 1969. An Index of Australian Bird Names. Division of WIldlife Research Technical Paper. Canberra : CSIRO Vol. No. 20 pp. 93. [11] (Golden Bosun-bird, White-tailed Bos'n-bird, White-tailed Tropic-bird)

Christidis, L. & Boles, W.E. 2008. Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 288 pp. [15] (White-tailed Tropicbird)

History of changes

• Phaethon lepturus dorotheae Mathews, G.M. 1913. Additions and corrections to my reference list. Austral Avian Records 2(1): 6-10 [Date published 2 August 1913] [7] [as Phaëthon lepturus dorotheae].

  Type data:

   Holotype AMNH 728933 Skin (Although listed as a Lectotype by Greenway (1973) there is no mention of this allocation in the reference given (Hartert, 1925)), Near Cairns, Queensland [16°55'S, 145°46'E].

  Type locality references:

  Hartert, E. 1925. Types of Birds in the Tring Museum. Novitates Zoologicae 32(6): 259-276 [276]; Greenway, J.C. Jnr 1973. Type specimens of birds in the American Museum of Natural History. Part 1. Tinamidae, Spheniscidae, Gaviidae, Podicipedidae, Diomedeidae, Procellariidae, Hydrobatidae, Pelecanoididae, Phaethontidae, Pelecanidae, Sulidae, Phalacrocoracidae, Anhingidae, Fregatidae, Ardeidae, Cochleariidae, Scopidae, Ciconiidae, Threskiornithidae, Phoenicopteridae, Anatidae, Cathartidae, Accipitridae, Falconidae, Megapodiidae, Cracidae, Tetraonidae, Phasianidae, Numididae, Meleagrididae, Turnicidae, Pedionomidae, Gruidae, Rallidae. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 150(3): 207-346 [234].

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland

IBRA

NSW, Qld: Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), Riverina (RIV)

IMCRA

Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Lord Howe Province (14), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20), Norfolk Island Province (21), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Other Regions

Coral Sea Islands Territory, Lord Howe Island terrestrial & freshwater, Norfolk Island terrestrial & freshwater

History of changes

• Phaethon fulvus Brandt, J.F. 1840. Tentamen monographiae zoologicae generis Phaethon. Memoires de l'Academie Imperiale des Sciences de St.-Petersbourg 6 5(2): 239-276 [269] [as Phaëthon fulvus].

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Christmas Island, Indian Ocean

IMCRA

Christmas Island Province (23)

Other Regions

Christmas Island terrestrial & freshwater

History of changes

• Phaeton lepturus Daudin, F.M. 1802. Unknown. pp.319 in Buffon, G.L.L. de. Histoire Naturelle de Buffon, classée d'après le système de Linné par R.R. Castel (Suites). Paris : Didot Vol. 14 pp. [319] [as Phaëthon lepturus].
• Lepturus fulvus Brisson, M.J. 1760. Ornithologia sive Synopsis methodica sistens avium divisionem in ordines, sectiones, genera, species, ipsarumque Varietates. Paris : Bauche JB. Vol. 6 pp.543+lxv. [489].
• Lepturus candidus Brisson, M.J. 1760. Ornithologia sive Synopsis methodica sistens avium divisionem in ordines, sectiones, genera, species, ipsarumque Varietates. Paris : Bauche JB. Vol. 6 pp.543+lxv. [485 pl. xlii, fig. 2].
• Phaethon novaehollandiae Brandt, J.F. 1840. Tentamen monographiae zoologicae generis Phaethon. Memoires de l'Academie Imperiale des Sciences de St.-Petersbourg 6 5(2): 239-276 [272] [as Phaëthon novaehollandiae].
• Phaethon flavoaurantius Lawrence, G.N. 1862. Description of a New Species of Bird of the Genus Phaethon, also of a New Species of Humming Bird of the Genus Heliopaedica. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History New York 7: 142-145 [142] [as Phaëthon flavoaurantius].

Distribution

States

Western Australia

IMCRA

Timor Province (2), Cocos (Keeling) Island Province (22), Northwest Transition (3)

History of changes

• Phaeton rubricauda Boddaert, P. 1783. Table des Planches Enluminéez d'Histoire Naturelle, de M. d'Aubenton. Avec les denominations de M.M. de Buffon, Brisson, Edwards, Linnaeus et Latham, precédé d'une Notice des Principaux Ouvrages Zoologiques enluminées. Utrecht : Boddaert xv 58 + 9 pp. [published Dec. 1783 International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature 1985. International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Third edition adopted by the XX General Assembly of the International Union of Biological Sciences. London : International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature xx 338 pp. [Art. 3]] [57].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, Unknown (Unlocated), Mauritius.

  Type locality references:

  Condon, H.T. 1975. Checklist of the Birds of Australia. Part 1 Non-Passerines. Melbourne : Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union xx 311 pp. [50].

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Western Indian Ocean (Madagascar to Seychelles)

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic: NSW North Coast (NNC), Sydney Basin (SB), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ)

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Lord Howe Province (14), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Timor Province (2), Cape Province (20), Norfolk Island Province (21), Cocos (Keeling) Island Province (22), Christmas Island Province (23), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Northwest Transition (3), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7)

Other Regions

Christmas Island terrestrial & freshwater, Cocos (Keeling) Islands terrestrial & freshwater, Coral Sea Islands Territory, Lord Howe Island terrestrial & freshwater, Norfolk Island terrestrial & freshwater, Territory of Ashmore & Cartier Islands, Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater

Common Name References

Anonymous 1969. An Index of Australian Bird Names. Division of WIldlife Research Technical Paper. Canberra : CSIRO Vol. No. 20 pp. 93. [10] (Bosun-bird, Red-tailed Bos'n-bird, Red-tailed Tropic-bird)

Christidis, L. & Boles, W.E. 1994. The Taxonomy and Species of Birds of Australia and its Territories. Monograph 2. Melbourne : Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union iv 112 pp. (Red-tailed Tropicbird)

Christidis, L. & Boles, W.E. 2008. Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 288 pp. [15] (Red-tailed Tropicbird)

History of changes

• Scaeophaethon rubricauda roseotinctus Mathews, G.M. 1926. Descriptions of a new genus (,i>Pseudochlamydera) and two new subspecies (Nycticorax caledonicus pelewensis and Poliolimnas cinereus moluccanus). Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 46: 60 [title in list of authors for volume p. xx].

Generic Combinations

• Phaethon rubricauda roseotinctus (MAthews, 1926). —
  del Hoyo, J. & Collar, N.J. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International illustrated checklist of the birds of the world. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Barcelona : Lynx Edicions pp. 903. [152]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Breeds on Islands of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, recorded mainly from east coast to northern TAS, and west to about Kangaroo Island, SA

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic: NSW North Coast (NNC), Sydney Basin (SB), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ)

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Lord Howe Province (14), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20), Norfolk Island Province (21), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Other Regions

Coral Sea Islands Territory, Lord Howe Island terrestrial & freshwater, Norfolk Island terrestrial & freshwater, Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater

History of changes

• Phaethon rubricauda westralis Mathews, G.M. 1912. Additions and corrections to my Reference List to the Birds of Australia. Austral Avian Records 1: 81-103 [Date published 18 Sep 1912] [88].

  Type data:

   Holotype AMNH 52881 Skin, Rottnest Island = Abrolhos Island, Western Australia [32°00'S, 115°31'E].

  Type locality references:

  Greenway, J.C. Jnr 1973. Type specimens of birds in the American Museum of Natural History. Part 1. Tinamidae, Spheniscidae, Gaviidae, Podicipedidae, Diomedeidae, Procellariidae, Hydrobatidae, Pelecanoididae, Phaethontidae, Pelecanidae, Sulidae, Phalacrocoracidae, Anhingidae, Fregatidae, Ardeidae, Cochleariidae, Scopidae, Ciconiidae, Threskiornithidae, Phoenicopteridae, Anatidae, Cathartidae, Accipitridae, Falconidae, Megapodiidae, Cracidae, Tetraonidae, Phasianidae, Numididae, Meleagrididae, Turnicidae, Pedionomidae, Gruidae, Rallidae. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 150(3): 207-346 [234]; Condon, H.T. 1975. Checklist of the Birds of Australia. Part 1 Non-Passerines. Melbourne : Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union xx 311 pp. [50].

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Breeds on Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Indian Ocean, and islands off WA, recorded mainly from west coast form around Albany, WA to NT

IMCRA

Timor Province (2), Cocos (Keeling) Island Province (22), Christmas Island Province (23), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Northwest Transition (3), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Northwest Province (4), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7)

Other Regions

Christmas Island terrestrial & freshwater, Cocos (Keeling) Islands terrestrial & freshwater, Territory of Ashmore & Cartier Islands

Distribution References

History of changes