Red-tailed Tropicbird

The Red-tailed Tropicbird is one of three similarly looking large white seabirds that occur within Australia and its territories. It can be generally identified by its long red tail streamers, although these are not present, or are greatly reduced, in young birds. The adult can be distinguished from the White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus by its bright white plumage, red tail streamers and red bill, while the vagrant Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus has black streaks on the back, large black panels in the primary flight feathers, and white tail streamers. Younger birds have black and white plumage, a dark grey to black (juveniles) or orange-yellow (immature) bill.