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Search by author or title:
Evidence of Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus breeding in the Gulf of Guinea.
Citation
Marino, G., Oquiongo, G., Hahn, I. L., Pereira, P., Pereira, J., & de Lima, R. F. (2025). Evidence of Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus breeding in the Gulf of Guinea.
Marine Ornithology 53(2),
409-413
http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.53.2.1662
Received 20 June 2025, accepted 29 July 2025
Date Published: 2025/10/15
Date Online: 2025/10/07
Key words: distribution, expansion, eastern South Atlantic, São Tomé and Príncipe, seabird nesting
Abstract
Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus has been considered vagrant in the Gulf of Guinea, although with suggestions of sporadic breeding at Tinhosas Islets, south of Príncipe Island. Here, we report repeated visits of birds to potential nesting sites, aggressive territorial behavior, and pair interactions on the coastal cliffs in the southern portion of São Tomé Island and nearby islets of Rolas and Sete Pedras. These observations strongly suggest that the species breeds at these locations, which would expand the known breeding range in the eastern Atlantic. Future work is needed to clarify the status of the species in the region.
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