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Red-billed Tropicbird

Phaethon aethereus

 


Jehl, who did counts off the Pacific coast of northern Central America between 10th and 17th April 1973, reported this species as uncommon though regular as far south as Colima (in Mexico), but much rarer further south with scattered individuals seen as far south as Costa Rica. He had one sighting in the Gulf of Fonseca. Monroe also mentions how local fishermen gave a good description of birds, which were probably this species, that visited Los Farallones, which are islands (belonging to Nicaragua) in the mouth of the Gulf of Fonseca. Alvaro Moises recently (June 2005) reported seeing one on a pelagic off the Gulf of Fonseca. I did not see this species on either of my pelagic trips, which were off the coast of Guatemala on 11th May and off El Salvador on 2nd July.
 
     
  .: Copyright Tom Jenner - Please do not use any photos without permission :.