Magnificent Frigatebird
Image: izanildo (cc-by-nc)
NameMagnificent Frigatebird
Common NameMagnificent Frigatebird
Scientific NameFregata magnificens
FamilyFregatidae
Wingspan (cm)230
Length (cm)100
Weight (g)1350
Plumage DetailsAdult males are entirely black with an iridescent sheen on their upperparts and a large, inflatable red gular pouch. Adult females are black with a white breast and belly, often with a reddish-brown collar. Juveniles have a white head and underparts, often with a rusty wash on the head and neck.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent in flight, but during courtship and nesting, they produce a variety of clattering, drumming, and whistling sounds. Males use their gular pouch to amplify drumming sounds.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal, islands, open ocean, mangroves
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In the Atlantic, it ranges from Florida and the Caribbean south to Brazil. In the Pacific, it occurs along the coasts of Mexico, Central America, and the Galapagos Islands.
Identifying FeaturesExtremely long, pointed, angled wings, Deeply forked tail, Large size, Buoyant, effortless soaring flight, Inflatable red gular pouch (breeding males), Dark plumage (males), white breast (females)
Description
The Magnificent Frigatebird is a large, dark seabird known for its impressive aerial agility and kleptoparasitic behavior. Males are all black with an inflatable red gular pouch displayed during breeding, while females have a white breast and belly. They spend most of their lives soaring effortlessly over tropical and subtropical oceans.
