Magnificent Frigatebird
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Bgag" title="User:Bgag">Bernard Gagnon</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
NameMagnificent Frigatebird
Common NameMagnificent Frigatebird
Scientific NameFregata magnificens
FamilyFregatidae
Wingspan (cm)230
Length (cm)100
Weight (g)1350
Plumage DetailsAdult females have a white head and upper breast, contrasting with a dark brown to black body. The bill is long, slender, and hooked, typically pale blue-gray. Males are entirely black with a large, inflatable red gular pouch that is displayed during courtship.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent at sea, but during breeding, they produce various clattering, drumming, and whistling sounds, especially around the nest site.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal, tropical ocean, subtropical ocean, islands
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, and along the Pacific coasts of the Americas from Mexico to Ecuador, including the Galápagos Islands.
Identifying Featuresextremely long, pointed wings, deeply forked tail, long, hooked bill, sexual dimorphism (males all black with red gular pouch, females with white head/breast), distinctive soaring flight
Description
The Magnificent Frigatebird is a large seabird known for its impressive aerial agility and long, pointed wings. Males are all black with an inflatable red gular pouch, while females have a white head and breast, as seen in the image. They are often found soaring over tropical and subtropical oceans, frequently engaging in kleptoparasitism.
