Untitled edit
I imagine, but cannot confirm, that the family name is based on Phaëton, perhaps because of the diving feeding behavior? --Chinasaur 19:02, 29 May 2005 (UTC)
- Chambers Dictionary confirms the link, but suggests that it is because tropicbirds "follow the Sun's course", whatever that means. jimfbleak 19:29, 29 May 2005 (UTC)
- Lord Ramage frequently refers to this bird on his voyages to the tropics, and I imagine that the derivation comes from the way that it is seen to fly east-west, but not north-south, in the Atlantic. Quotes can be provided if necessary. Setokaiba✌≝ 17:17, 15 April 2008 (UTC)
Cladograms edit
This article makes reference to some complex phylogeny, which would be best clarified by 'old' and 'new' cladograms to illustrate the changes in thinking. Chiswick Chap (talk) 13:15, 16 December 2013 (UTC)