Tropicbird

Tropicbirds; Temporal range: Early Eocene to present
	Red-billed Tropicbird
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Phaethontiformes
Family:	Phaethontidae; Brandt, 1840
Genus:	Phaethon; Linnaeus, 1758
Type species
	Phaethon aethereus (red-billed tropicbird); Linnaeus, 1758
Species
	P. aethereus (red-billed tropicbird); P. rubricauda (red-tailed tropicbird); P. lepturus (white-tailed tropicbird);
Synonyms
	Leptophaethon Mathews 1913; Lepturus Moehring 1752 nom rej.; Lepturus Brisson 1760; Scaeophaethon Mathews 1913; Phoenicurus Bonaparte 1855 non Forster 1817; Tropicophilus Stephens 1826;

Tropicbirds are a family, Phaethontidae, of tropical pelagic seabirds. They are the sole living representatives of the order Phaethontiformes. For many years they were considered part of the Pelecaniformes, but genetics indicates they are most closely related to the Eurypygiformes. There are three species in one genus, Phaethon. The scientific names are derived from Ancient Greek phaethon, "sun".^[2] They have predominantly white plumage with elongated tail feathers and small feeble legs and feet.

^ "Part 7- Vertebrates". Collection of genus-group names in a systematic arrangement. 2007. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
^ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 301. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.

[1] "Part 7- Vertebrates". Collection of genus-group names in a systematic arrangement. 2007. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2017.

[job90-2] Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 301. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.

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