Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens
Overview
Description
The magnificent frigatebird (Fregata magnificens), frigate petrel or man o' war is a seabird of the frigatebird family Fregatidae. With a length of 89–114 centimetres (2 ft 11 in – 3 ft 9 in) and wingspan of 2.17–2.44 m (7 ft 1 in – 8 ft 0 in) it is the largest species of frigatebird. It occurs over tropical and subtropical waters off America, between northern Mexico and Peru on the Pacific coast and between Florida and southern Brazil along the Atlantic coast. There are also populations on the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific and the Cape Verde islands in the Atlantic. It is one of the fastest birds in the world, flying at speeds of up to 95 miles per hour. The magnificent frigatebird is a large, lightly built seabird with brownish-black plumage, long narrow wings and a deeply forked tail. The male has a striking red gular sac which he inflates to attract a mate. The female is slightly larger than the male and has a white breast and belly. Frigatebirds feed on fish taken in flight from the ocean's surface (often flying fish), and sometimes indulge in kleptoparasitism, harassing other birds to force them to regurgitate their food.1
Taxonomy
Suliformes > Fregatidae (Frigatebirds) > Frigatebirds, Boobies, and Gannets
Sightings
Relevant Sightings
- 03-10-2015 - Quintana Roo, Mexico (First Sighting / First and Best Photo)
- 07-05-2024 - Florida, United States (Last Sighting)
Places Seen
- Florida, United States
- Quintana Roo, Mexico
Media
Photographs
Audio Recordings
No audio recordings available.