Editing Tropicbird (section)

==Description==
[[File:Red tailed tropic bird.jpg|thumb|right|Red-tailed tropicbird at [[Midway atoll|Midway Atoll]]]]
Tropicbirds range in size from 76&nbsp;cm to 102&nbsp;cm in length and 94&nbsp;cm to 112&nbsp;cm in wingspan. Their plumage is predominantly white, with elongated central tail feathers. The three species have different combinations of black markings on the face, back, and wings. Their bills are large, powerful and slightly decurved. Their heads are large and their necks are short and thick. They have totipalmate feet (that is, all four toes are connected by a web). The legs of a tropicbird are located far back on their body, making walking impossible, so that they can only move on land by pushing themselves forward with their feet.<ref name=EoB/>

The tropicbirds' call is typically a loud, piercing, shrill, but grating whistle, or crackle<!--should be "cackle"?-->. These are often given in a rapid series when they are in a display flight at the colony. In old literature they were referred to as boatswain (bo'sun'/bosun) birds due their loud whistling calls.<ref>{{cite book|author=Green, J.F.|year=1887|title=Ocean Birds|publisher=R.H. Porter|place=London|page=52|url=https://archive.org/stream/oceanbirds00gree#page/52/mode/2up}}</ref>

[[File:Red-billed Tropicbird JCB.jpg|left|thumb|Red-billed tropicbird, Genovesa Island, Galapagos]]