Birds of India - The New Synopsis

A complete checklist of bird species and subspecies found in India

Phaethontiformes (Tropicbirds)

Phaethontidae (Tropicbirds)

• Phaethon Linnaeus, 1758 Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata 1 p.134 Phaethon aethereus Linnaeus, 1758; Type by subsequent designation (Gray, 1840, A list of the genera of birds, with an indication of the typical species of each genus, p.80)
  • 318. Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus Linnaeus, 1758
    Original Description: Phaëthon aethereus Linnaeus, 1758 Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata 1 p.134
    Alternative Names: Short-tailed Tropicbird
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 318a. Phaethon aethereus indicus Hume, 1876 [HB#17]
      Original Description: Phaeton indicus Hume, 1876 Stray Feathers 4 p.481 (Cherbaniani reef, Lakshadweep)
      Distribution: Non-breeding: Off-shore Arabian Sea and sporadically in Bay of Bengal. Stragglers sometimes in the coasts.
      Type Specimen: NHMUK#1894.6.20.88 (Holotype).
      Specimens: BNHS, NHMUK
  
  
  • 319. Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda Boddaert, 1783
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 319a. Phaethon rubricauda rubricauda Boddaert, 1783 [HB#18]
      Original Description: Phaeton rubricauda Boddaert, 1783 Table des planches enluminéez d'histoire naturelle de M. D'Aubenton p.57
      Distribution: Vagrant. Reported from S W Bengal, Porbandar (Gujarat), and once seen off-shore Great Nicobar Is.
      Specimens: ZRC
      Notes: Bay of Bengal records assumed to be of this subspecies after RA2012.
  
  
  • 320. White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus Daudin, 1802
    Alternative Names: White Tropicbird
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 320a. Phaethon lepturus lepturus Daudin, 1802 [HB#19]
      Original Description: Phaëton lepturus Daudin, 1802 Histoire Naturelle par Buffon, Quadrupèdes 14 p.319
      Distribution: Non-breeding: Lakshadweep Sea and off-shore waters thereof. Stragglers elsewhere, in W Bengal and S Assam (historical).
      Notes: All Andaman Sea reports probably of this subspecies only (and not fulvus that breeds in Christmas Is.). There is a specimen in a private collection in Kerala.
    • [Phaethon lepturus fulvus Brandt, 1838 ]
      Original Description: Phaëthon fulvus Brandt, 1838 Bulletin Scientifique publié par l'Académie Impériale des Sciences de Saint-Pétersbourg 4 no.7 col.98
      Distribution: SE Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.
      Notes: May occur, as they breed southeast of our region in Christmas Is.