This is likely quite a common bird but, I've poked around the internet and can't seem to find a bird with the long straight bill, stubby tail, and coloring of this one. This was taken just off the US Virgin Islands. Any help identifying it would be appreciated.
Lovely shot, Joanne, loads of detail there, I think it should be fairly easy to identify from this photo.
Straight off the top of my head, juvenile Frigate bird species, came to mind, failing that it might be some sort of Shearwater.
Not had time to have a proper look on-line or in my books, will try to later if no one else gets it.
@markp I did think Frigate bird at first, but the lack of hook at the end of the beak, and the tail seeming to be shorter and not split didn't seem to fit the standard. On the other the shape of tail could be affected by the way the bird is moving. And then there may be different species of Frigate birds that have different characteristics.
Just for anyone's information: Someone on another site suggested it might be a Brown Booby and, sure enough when I looked that up on the internet it does appear to be the same bird.
Straight off the top of my head, juvenile Frigate bird species, came to mind, failing that it might be some sort of Shearwater.
Not had time to have a proper look on-line or in my books, will try to later if no one else gets it.