RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD PHAETHON AETHEREUS OCCURRENCE PATTERNS IN THE STATE OF VERACRUZ, GULF OF MEXICO: POSSIBLE CAUSES AND IMPLICATIONS

摘要

The Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus is considered a pantropical species, but its local distribution is far from well documented. Tn the Gulf of Mexico the species has thus far been reported only in the northern region. Here we report seven sightings at the mouth of the Jamapa River, Veracruz State, Mexico. These constitute the second to eighth sightings of this species in eastern Mexican waters and the first for this state. The bird in each sighting seemed to be in good condition, and we present an assessment of potential prey in the area based on previous studies of the diet of the species. Of interest, tropicbird sightings were in an area characterized by a salt-wedge estuary, and this is not the first time this association has been noted, indicating that use of this habitat or at least coastal habitats in general may not be unusual for the species.