BIRDS of THE WORLD - An Online Bird Book
SULIFORMES
Frigates
Order Suliformes Family Fregatidae - 1 genus
SULIFORMES
Cormorants, Anhingas, Boobies / Gannets, and Frigatebirds are rather closely related. Some assign them to their own order Suliformes; others assign them to Pelicaniformes.
Frigates
Order Suliformes Family Fregatidae - 1 genus
Frigatebirds are large, with iridescent black feathers (the females have a white underbelly), with long wings and deeply-forked tails. The males have inflatable red-colored throat pouches which they inflate to attract females during the mating season. Frigatebirds are found over tropical oceans and ride warm updrafts. These birds do not swim and cannot walk well, and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan to body weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week, landing only to roost or breed on trees or cliffs. [abstracted from Wikipedia]
Genus Fregata
Frigatebird, Ascension Island Fregata aquila Found: Ascension Island
The male Ascension Island Frigatebird has black plumage; red gular (throat) sac. Female has black plumage; blue eye-ring. Juvenile has white head; brown and white breast; white belly. Ascension Island is a tropical Atlantic Ocean Island about half way between South America and Africa. It breeds in vicinity of Ascension Island, but its range is not well known because of similarity to Magnificent Frigatedbird.
Similar to: Magnificent Frigatebird.
Image by: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) Drew AverySimilar to: Magnificent Frigatebird.
1) Hatching egg 2) Chick 3, 4) Juvenile 5, 6) Female 7, 8) Male
Frigatebird, Christmas Island Fregata andrewsi Found: Christmas Island of the Indian Ocean Vagrant: Australasia
The male Christmas Island Frigatebird is all black except for a white belly patch,.
Image by: 1) Shah Jahan - Jakarta, Indonesia
Frigatebird, Great Fregata minor Found: South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, Hawaii, and other Pacific Islands
The male Great Frigatebird has black plumage with green sheen; red gular (throat) sac. Female has black plumage including head; white breast with gray bib; red eye-ring.
Similar to: Lesser Frigatebird. Great Frigatebird is the largest frigatebird; Lesser Frigatebird is the smallest.
Similar to: Magnificent Frigatebird. Male Great Frigatebird has purple iridescence sheen to its black plumage; male Magnificemt Frigatebird has green iridescence sheen. Female Great Frigatebird has red eye-ring; female Magnificent Frigatebird has blue eye-ring.
Image by: 1, 3, 7) Len Blumin - Galapagos 2, 5, 6) Dick - Kauai, Hawaii 4) Dick Daniels - Michaelmas Cay, Great Barrier Reef 8) HarmonyOnPlanetEarth - Midway Island Similar to: Lesser Frigatebird. Great Frigatebird is the largest frigatebird; Lesser Frigatebird is the smallest.
Similar to: Magnificent Frigatebird. Male Great Frigatebird has purple iridescence sheen to its black plumage; male Magnificemt Frigatebird has green iridescence sheen. Female Great Frigatebird has red eye-ring; female Magnificent Frigatebird has blue eye-ring.
1, 2) Juvenile 3) Pair 4, 5, 6) Female 7, 8) Male
Frigatebird, Lesser Fregata ariel Found: South America, Asia, Africa, Australasia, tropical islands including Christmas Island
The Lesser Frigatebird thin white streak from flanks to underwing. Male has mostly black plumage . Breeding male has large red throat sack. Female has black upperparts, head, neck, belly; white breast; pink bill; red eye-ring. Juvenile has black upperparts, belly; white head, neck, breast.
Similar to: Great Frigatebird. Great Frigatebird is the largest frigatebird; Lesser Frigatebird is the smallest.
Image by: 1, 3) Andi Li 2) Aviceda - Western AustraliaSimilar to: Great Frigatebird. Great Frigatebird is the largest frigatebird; Lesser Frigatebird is the smallest.
1, 2) Juvenile 3) Female
Frigatebird, Magnificent Fregata magnificens Found: The Americas, the Galapagos Islands
The male Magnificent Frigatebird has black plumage with purple sheen; red gular (throat) sac. Female has black plumage including head; white breast; blue eye-ring.
Similar to: Ascension Island Frigatebird.
Similar to: Great Frigatebird. Male Great Frigatebird has purple iridescence sheen to its black plumage; male Magnificemt Frigatebird has green iridescence sheen. Female Great Frigatebird has red eye-ring; female Magnificent Frigatebird has blue eye-ring.
Image by: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) Dick Daniels - Galapago 2, 7, 8) Barloventomagico - Venezuela 4, 12) Dick - Isla La Iguana, Panana Similar to: Ascension Island Frigatebird.
Similar to: Great Frigatebird. Male Great Frigatebird has purple iridescence sheen to its black plumage; male Magnificemt Frigatebird has green iridescence sheen. Female Great Frigatebird has red eye-ring; female Magnificent Frigatebird has blue eye-ring.
1) Chick 2, 3, 4) Juvenile 5, 6) Female 7, 8, 9, 10) Male
