Rising Tide Images
Tears of Light
A red-tailed tropicbird, koa’e ‘ula, hovers near a sea cliff nest. Interestingly, this photo reveals the sunlight striking the bulbous eye corneas from above is focused to a point below, looking like tears of light. Tropicbirds are superb aerial acrobats and the only bird I can think of, other than hummingbirds, which can also fly backwards. Their aerial courtship displays over the ocean are fascinating to watch. The red-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) is one of only three species of tropicbirds worldwide and identified by the red bill and distinctive long, red, central tail streamers. Surely among the most beautiful of all the seabirds!
Tears of Light
A red-tailed tropicbird, koa’e ‘ula, hovers near a sea cliff nest. Interestingly, this photo reveals the sunlight striking the bulbous eye corneas from above is focused to a point below, looking like tears of light. Tropicbirds are superb aerial acrobats and the only bird I can think of, other than hummingbirds, which can also fly backwards. Their aerial courtship displays over the ocean are fascinating to watch. The red-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) is one of only three species of tropicbirds worldwide and identified by the red bill and distinctive long, red, central tail streamers. Surely among the most beautiful of all the seabirds!