Text extracted from Gill B.J.; Bell, B.D.; Chambers, G.K.; Medway, D.G.; Palma, R.L.; Scofield, R.P.; Tennyson, A.J.D.; Worthy, T.H. 2010. Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. 4th edition. Wellington, Te Papa Press and Ornithological Society of New Zealand. Pages 136-137.

Order PHAETHONTIFORMES: Tropicbirds The tropicbirds and the related prehistoric family Prophaethontidae are best considered a distinct order (Mayr 2003, Fain & Houde 2004, Bourdon et al. 2005, Ericson et al. 2006, Christidis & Boles 2008, Hackett et al. 2008) and we follow this. However, we leave them in their traditional place before pelicans, gannets, cormorants and allies pending future work to settle their nearest relatives.

Family PHAETHONTIDAE Brandt: Tropicbirds Phaëthontes Brandt, 1840: Mem. l’Acad. Imp. Sci., St Petersburg (ser. 6) 5(2): 239 – Type Phaethon Linnaeus, 1758.

Genus Phaethon Linnaeus Phaëthon Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 134 – Type species (by subsequent designation) Phaethon aethereus Linnaeus. Phaëton Linnaeus, 1766: Syst. Nat., 12th edition 1: 219. Unjustified emendation. Lepturus Reichenbach, 1853: Avium Syst. Nat. 2(1): 7 – Type species (by monotypy) Lepturus edwardsii Reichenbach = Phaethon lepturus Daudin. Junior homonym of Lepturus Brisson, 1760. Phoenicurus Bonaparte, 1857: Conspectus Gen. Avium 2: 183 – Type species (by original designation) Phoenicurus rubricauda Bonaparte = Phaethon rubricauda Boddaert. Junior homonym of Phoenicurus T. Forster, 1817. Scaeophaëthon Mathews, 1913: Austral Avian Rec. 2: 56 – Type species (by original designation) Phaethon rubricauda westralis Mathews. Unnecessary nomen novum for Phoenicurus Bonaparte, 1857. Leptophaëthon Mathews, 1913: Austral Avian Rec. 2: 56 – Type species (by original designation) Phaethon lepturus dorotheae Mathews. Unnecessary nomen novum for Lepturus Reichenbach, 1853.

Phaethon lepturus Daudin White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus Daudin, 1802: in Buffon, Histoire Naturelle, Quadrup. 14: 319 – , .

Six subspecies breeding on islands as follows: tropical Indian Ocean, Ph. l. lepturus (several islands), Ph. l. fulvus Brandt, 1838 (, North Indian Ocean); Pacific Ocean, Ph. l. dorotheae; Atlantic Ocean, Ph. l. ascensionis (Mathews, 1915); Europa Island, Channel, Ph. l. europae Le Corre & Jouventin, 1999; Caribbean Sea, Ph. l. catesbyi Brandt, 1838 (Dorst & Mougin 1979, Le Corre & Jouventin 1999, Dickinson 2003). The subspecies are considered poorly defined (del Hoyo et al. 1992) with no races recognised by some authors (e.g. Marchant & Higgins 1990). Yellowbilled tropicbird is an alternative common name recommended by Bourne & Casement (1996).

Phaethon lepturus dorotheae Mathews White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus dorotheae Mathews, 1913: Austral Avian Rec. 2: 7 – , . Leptophaethon lepturus dorotheae (Mathews); Mathews 1913, List Birds Australia: 101. Phaethon lepturus dorotheae Mathews; Checklist Committee 1980, Notornis (Suppl.) 27: 12. Phaethon lepturus; Moore 1999, Notornis 46: 357. Not Phaethon lepturus Daudin, 1802.

Breeds on islands in the Pacific but not in the New Zealand region. Straggles to northern New Zealand (see Marchant & Higgins 1990): Jan. 1973 Bay of Plenty (Brown 1973); Feb. 1973 Norfolk Island (Schodde et al. 1983); Feb. 1979 near Okato (Taranaki; the southernmost record); Feb. 1979 Dargaville; Jun. 1979 Muriwai; Mar. and May 1983 Ninety Mile Beach; Apr. 1983 Omamari Beach; Dec. 1985 Motukawanui Island, Cavalli Group (AIM LB1476); Jan. 1986 Waikuku Beach and Great Exhibition Bay; Jan. 1986 Norfolk Island (Moore 1999); Jan. 1989 Ruakaka (Gordon 1989, Guest & Bell 1989, Checklist Committee 1990); Mar. 1997 Whangarei (NMNZ 25640); Jan. 1999 Tokerau Beach (Taylor 2004); Oct. 2000 Karioitahi Beach Peninsula (AIM LB9487); Apr. 2006 Ninety Mile Beach (Howell & Esler 2007).