Tropical Two-wing Flyingfish Identification Guide
Spot this small, streamlined flyingfish by its single pair of enlarged pectoral wings and unbanded, dusky-clear fins.
Read the full Tropical Two-wing Flyingfish encyclopedia entry →
Key identification features
- Small, compact flyingfish body, generally under 10 inches
- Dark blue to blue-black back with silvery flanks and belly
- Only the pectoral fins are greatly enlarged into wings; the pelvic fins remain small and unremarkable, giving the "two-wing" pattern
- Pectoral fins are plain dusky to clear, without bold bands or spots
- Slightly forked tail with a longer lower lobe, typical of flyingfish
Common look-alikes
- California Flyingfish and other four-wing flyingfish: have noticeably enlarged pelvic fins in addition to the pectorals, giving a four-wing gliding profile this species lacks
- Bandwing Flyingfish: pectoral fin shows a clear pale crossband, unlike the plain wing of this species
- Blackwing Flyingfish: pectoral fins are distinctly blackish rather than the plain dusky tone typical of this species
Where you'll see one
Found circumglobally in warm tropical and subtropical open ocean waters, well offshore over deep water, where it is regularly seen skipping and gliding short distances across the surface, usually in small loose groups rather than large schools.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know a flyingfish is a 'two-wing' species rather than a 'four-wing' species?
Look at the pelvic fins near the belly; if only the pectoral fins are enlarged into wings and the pelvic fins stay small, it's a two-wing species like this one, while noticeably long pelvic fins indicate a four-wing species.
What distinguishes this species from the Blackwing Flyingfish?
Pectoral fin color is the key clue: the Tropical Two-wing Flyingfish has plain dusky to clear wings, while the Blackwing Flyingfish shows distinctly dark or blackish pectoral fins.