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Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificensOrder: PELECANIFORMESFamily: Frigatebirds (Fregatidae)
Magnificent Frigatebird Male Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Hooked Seabird
  • Eye Color: Dark brown with black orbital ring.
  • Head Pattern: Plain, Unique pattern
  • Crown Color: Black with purple gloss.
  • Forehead Color: Black with purple gloss.
  • Nape Color: Black with purple gloss.
  • Throat Color: Bright red
  • Cere color: No Data
Magnificent Frigatebird Male Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 94-104 cm (37-41 in)
  • Weight: 1270 g (44.8 oz)
  • Size: Very Large (32 - 72 in)
  • Color Primary: Black, Sheen or Iridescence
  • Underparts: Black
  • Upperparts: Black with purple gloss.
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Magnificent Frigatebird Male Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Graceful., Very high effortless soaring flight.
  • Wingspan Range: 208-239 cm (82-94 in)
  • Wing Shape: Long-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Forked Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Black
  • Under Tail: Black
  • Leg Color: Black
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Family
Species Fregata magnificens
Length37 - 41 Inches
Wingspan88 Inches

Magnificent Frigatebird

Magnificent Frigatebird: Large black seabird, orange throat patch inflates into a huge bright red-orange balloon when in courtship display. Long bill is gray, hooked. Wings are long and narrow. Tail is forked; legs and feet are dark gray. Eats fish, crustaceans, jellyfish. High soaring flight.

● Song: "kack", "ka-ack"

● Foraging & Feeding: Magnificent Frigatebird: Eats small fish, squid, jellyfish, crustaceans, hatchling sea turtles, young terns, birds, and their eggs; also scavenges for scraps around fishing boats and docks. Forages by shallow plunge diving or snatching food from the surface; chases terns and forces them to drop their catch.

● Breeding & nesting: Magnificent Frigatebird: One, rarely two, white eggs are laid in a flimsy platform made of sticks, grass, and stems, usually built in a mangrove, other tree, or bush, 2 to 20 feet above the ground or water; sometimes nests on the ground. Incubation ranges from 40 to 50 days and is carried out by both parents. Most females do not breed every year.

● Similar species: Magnificent Frigatebird: Great Frigatebird has pale brown wing coverts and glossy green head and back.

Flight Pattern

Graceful., Very high effortless soaring flight.
Magnificent Frigatebird Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Magnificent Frigatebird: During breeding season, found in coastal Florida and in tropical Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In non-breeding season, occurs from the coast of North Carolina south to Florida and west to Texas; also on the coast of California. Preferred habitats include ocean coasts, bays, and islands; nests on mangrove islands.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial
PopulationRare to casual
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight44.8 Ounces