nests on the kermadec island cliffs

Size
Length: 70-80 cm, Weight: 300-400 g
Lifespan
15-20 years
Diet
Carnivorous. Feeds on fish and squid. Plunge-dives from heights of 10-20 metres. Hovers before dropping. Often feeds in association with feeding tuna.
Habitat
Tropical and subtropical oceans. Breeds on remote coral atolls, rocky islands, and cliff faces. Nests in crevices, under boulders, or in burrows.
Range
Tropical and subtropical Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans. In New Zealand, resident in the Kermadec Islands and a rare vagrant to the North Island coast.
Endemism
Native
Main Threats
Introduced predators on breeding islands including rats and cats that eat eggs and chicks. Light pollution disorienting fledglings near coastal towns. Climate change affecting prey distribution.
Population
Global population estimated at 100,000-200,000 birds. In New Zealand, resident in the Kermadec Islands and a rare vagrant to the North Island coast.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
Human Risk
harmless
Handling Note
seabird, do not approach or disturb on nesting grounds
Conservation Note
Native tropicbird; breeds on Kermadec Islands and is widespread in tropical Pacific.
Assessment
NZTCS Birds (2021)
Te Ao Māori
Tāvake is the Māori name for both white-tailed and red-tailed tropicbirds. In Māori tradition, the tāvake was a bird of the open ocean. Its long tail streamers were seen as a sign of chiefly rank. The Kermadec Islands are where the white-tailed tropicbird breeds. These islands are of cultural significance to northern iwi. They represent the northernmost extent of New Zealand's realm. The connection is geographic and spiritual. The bird marks the boundary. It is a symbol of the north. The respect is enduring. The link remains strong.
A pure white seabird with long tail streamers trails behind in flight. They look like a pair of white ribbons. The white-tailed tropicbird is one of the most elegant birds in the Pacific. It appears as a ghost against the blue sky. It dances on the wind. It lives its entire life over tropical and subtropical oceans. It comes to land only to breed. The isolation is total. The ocean is its home. The plumage is entirely white. A black stripe runs through the eye. Black tips mark the flight feathers. The bill is orange-yellow. The legs are blue-grey with yellow webs. The long tail streamers can be twice the length of the bird's body. They stream behind as it flies. The effect is striking. It feeds on fish and squid. It plunge-dives from heights of up to twenty metres. It hovers briefly before dropping. It folds its wings at the last moment. It strikes the water with a splash. It emerges with a fish. The technique is precise. The timing is critical. The flight is buoyant and tern-like. Rapid wingbeats mix with long glides. A white-tailed tropicbird in the air is a study in grace. It soars over the waves. It turns with the wind. Breeding takes it to remote tropical islands. The nest is a scrape in a crevice or under a boulder. Sometimes it is in a burrow dug into soft soil. A single white egg is laid. It is speckled with brown. Both parents share incubation. The chick is covered in white down. It fledges in about two months. The cycle is fast. The risk is high. In New Zealand, white-tailed tropicbirds breed in the Kermadec Islands. This is a tropical outpost in New Zealand's far north. The population is small. A few hundred pairs remain. They nest on Raoul Island and adjacent islets. White-tailed tropicbirds are sometimes seen from the mainland. They are rare vagrants. A bird has wandered further south than usual. The species is closely related to the red-tailed tropicbird. The white-tailed has white tail streamers and a yellow bill. The red-tailed has red streamers and a red bill. The distinction is clear. The call is a loud, piercing 'kree-kree-kree'. It is often given in flight. The sound cuts through the wind. The name 'tāvake' is shared with the red-tailed tropicbird. Both species are known by that name. The white-tailed tropicbird is a bird of the tropics. It is a creature of warm water and coral islands. It does not belong here. It belongs to the equator. It visits briefly. It leaves. The numbers are stable. The habitat is secure. It carries on.