What is a frigatebird?  You may have seen pictures of these tropical birds.  They are black with forked tails and long, hooked beaks.  The females have white underbellies while the males have red ‘gular pouch’.  This pouch is what they inflate during breeding season to attract mates.  So, what are some facts?

• Their wings can span up to 7.5 feet long, which gives it the largest wing area to body mass of all birds.
• They can remain in constant flight for up to two months.
• Frigatebirds primarily eat fish and squid by skimming the surface.  They work with larger water predators such as tuna.
• They can be known as kleptoparasites because they steal food from other birds.  This also earns them the nickname ‘pirates of the air’.  They are also called ‘man o war birds’.
• They will also take seabird chicks from the nest.
• Frigatebirds can only breed every other year.
• They lay one egg, which makes it difficult to maintain populations in the face of disaster.
• Parents will feed their children for 14-18 months.  The male takes turns with the female for the first 3 months then becomes less involved.
• They nest in large colonies and remain monogamous for a season.
• Frigatebirds cannot swim because their feathers aren’t waterproof.
• They can do unihemispheric sleep, which means they shut down half their brain at a time.  This allows them to sleep while flying.
• Their flight pattern is described as a roller coaster since they rise to 3,000-4,000 meters and then glide down.  This conserves energy.
• Two of the five species are at risk:
  • The Christmas Frigatebird is critically endangered due to loss of breeding habitat during WWII and dust pollution from phosphate mining.
  • The Ascension Frigatebird no longer breeds on the main island due to the introduction of feral cats.  The removal of the cats in the early 2000’s has led to some of the birds returning
• Male breeding displays involve pointing their beaks to the sky, inflating their pouch, and vibrating their stretched wings.  They will make a drumming sound and occasional whistles.
• Frigatebirds can take years to reach sexual maturity.  Females took 8-9 years while males took 10-11 years.
• The magnificent frigatebird is the largest of the species.  The males have a purple sheen to their feathers, which helps distinguish them from the slightly smaller and similar great frigatebird

Pics and videos time:

Ascension Frigatebird

Christmas Frigatebird

Great Frigatebird

Lesser Frigatebird

Magnificent Frigatebird