ExploreBirds

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

The Magnificent Frigatebird is a large bird with a striking red throat pouch that it inflates to attract mates. These birds are excellent flyers and can soar high in the sky for hours without flapping their wings!

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Magnificent Frigatebird is a large, mostly black seabird with extremely long, pointed wings and a deeply forked tail. Males are identifiable by their bright, inflatable red gular pouch; females have a white chest and belly.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderSuliformesFamilyFregatidaeGenusFregata
Magnificent Frigatebird
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Magnificent Frigatebird

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Frigatebirds can sleep for short bursts while soaring high in the air!

Their chicks take many months, sometimes over half a year, to fledge!

They are also known as 'Man-o'-War' birds, due to their piratical habits!

With weak legs, they can barely walk, making them clumsy on land!

Special abilities

Ability

Aerial Acrobat

Magnificent Frigatebird can snatch prey from the water's surface or mid-air because of its incredible agility and precise flight.

Ability

Soaring Master

Magnificent Frigatebird can stay aloft for days, using its vast wings to ride thermals and wind currents with minimal effort.

Ability

Inflation Display

Magnificent Frigatebird males have an inflatable red throat pouch that helps them attract mates with a striking visual display.

Ability

Food Snatcher

Magnificent Frigatebird can steal food from other seabirds in flight because of its speed and aerial dominance.

Measurements & details

Length
89-114 cm
Wingspan
217-244 cm
Weight
1.1-1.6 kg
Lifespan
15-30 years
Top Speed
153 km/h
Clutch Size
1
Incubation
50-60 days

Diet & Feeding

These agile hunters mostly eat flying fish and squid, sometimes even stealing meals from other birds!

Primary Foods

  • flying fish
  • squid
  • crustaceans
  • jellyfish
  • small turtles

Foraging Method

  • Pursuit

Ecological connections

parasitizes

Brown Booby

Sula leucogaster

harasses to steal freshly caught fish in mid-air.

eats

Common Flyingfish

Exocoetus volitans

snatches from the water surface or while they are airborne.

eats

Striped Mullet

Mugil cephalus

catches these fish that swim near the ocean's surface.

eats

Brown Noddy

Anous stolidus

occasionally preys on eggs and chicks from island colonies.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Watch from a distance and don't disturb their nests, as they are wild birds.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Magnificent Frigatebird?

89-114 cm

What is Magnificent Frigatebird's wingspan?

217-244 cm

How much does Magnificent Frigatebird weigh?

1.1-1.6 kg

How long does Magnificent Frigatebird live?

15-30 years

How fast can Magnificent Frigatebird move?

153 km/h

What does Magnificent Frigatebird eat?

These agile hunters mostly eat flying fish and squid, sometimes even stealing meals from other birds!

Where is Magnificent Frigatebird usually found?

Coastal areas

How does Magnificent Frigatebird hunt?

Pursuit

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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