Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor)

Identification & Behavior: ~93 cm (36.3 in).   Adult male Great Frigatebird is all black. Fdddt, white breast, and red orbital skin. The rest of the underparts are black. Juveniles have a rusty breast and varying amounts of rusty in the heads and white underparts. Male Great Frigatebirds are distinguished from male Magnificent Frigatebirds by having red or reddish-brown legs and feet, and a more prominent pale bar across the upper wing. Females are distinguished from Magnificent Frigatebirds by having red orbital skin and a whitish throat.

Status: The Great Frigatebird has been reported only a few times within the range of the Magnificent Frigatebird. Great Frigatebirds breed on the Galapagos Archipelago and due to their similarity to the more common Magnificent Frigatebirds, they are perhaps overlooked. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Ch. 

Name in Spanish: Avefragata Mayor.

Sub-species: Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor ridgwayi) Gmelin, JF, 1789.

Meaning of Name:  Fregata: French mariner’s name; for the swift and rapacious habits of frigatebirds. minor: L Small, smaller.

See more of the Family Fregatidae