Basic Information
Frigatebirds belong to the family Fregatidae, which includes five different species that can be found across tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide!
Frigatebirds - Facts for Kids
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Facts About Frigatebirds For Kids
The five species of frigatebirds are the Magnificent Frigatebird, Great Frigatebird, Lesser Frigatebird, Ascension Frigatebird, and Christmas Island Frigatebird!
A group of frigatebirds is called a “squadron,” just like a group of airplanes, because they are such amazing flyers!
Frigatebirds can live up to 30 years in the wild — and some even grow older. That makes them one of the longest-living seabirds out there!
Frigatebirds don’t use special names like “cocks” or “hens.” We usually just call them male and female. And their babies are simply called chicks or nestlings!
The Magnificent Frigatebird is the largest species, with males weighing up to 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) and having a wingspan of up to 2.4 meters (8 feet)!
Frigatebirds belong to the order Suliformes, along with gannets, boobies, cormorants, and darters!
The scientific name for the Magnificent Frigatebird is Fregata magnificens, which means “magnificent frigate” in Latin!
Frigatebirds can be found in tropical waters around the equator, from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific and Indian Oceans!
Frigatebirds spend most of their time flying over the ocean but must nest on land, usually on remote islands with plenty of trees!
Frigatebirds spend most of their time flying over the ocean but must nest on land, usually on remote islands with plenty of trees!
Physical Characteristics
Frigatebirds have the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird in the world, which helps them stay in the air for incredibly long periods!
Adult male frigatebirds have a bright red throat pouch called a gular sac that they inflate like a balloon during mating season!
Frigatebirds have a deeply forked tail that looks like scissors, which helps them make sharp turns while flying!
Frigatebirds have extremely light bones that make up only about 5% of their total body weight!
Frigatebirds have very long, hooked beaks that help them catch flying fish and grab food from the ocean’s surface!
The feathers of frigatebirds aren’t waterproof like other seabirds, which is why they can’t land on water!
Adult frigatebirds are mostly black with a beautiful, glossy sheen that can appear green or purple in sunlight!
Female frigatebirds are slightly larger than males and have a white patch on their chest!
A frigatebird’s wingspan is so wide that it would stretch across your bedroom — that’s longer than you are tall!
Frigatebirds have very small feet compared to their body size, which makes them poor walkers but excellent flyers!
Behavior & Intelligence
Frigatebirds can sleep while flying by letting one half of their brain rest while the other half stays alert!
Male frigatebirds gather in groups called leks to display their bright red throat pouches and attract females!
Frigatebirds follow fishing boats to catch fish that escape from nets or are discarded by fishermen!
Frigatebirds can stay in the air for up to two months without landing!
Frigatebirds communicate through various calls, including a distinctive rattling sound made by males during courtship!
Young frigatebirds practice flying skills by playing with feathers and other objects in the air!
Frigatebirds are known to chase other seabirds until they regurgitate their food, which the frigatebird then catches in mid-air!
Frigatebirds can ride warm air currents up to 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) high in the sky!
Frigatebirds use their forked tails like rudders to make precise turns and movements while flying!
Frigatebirds return to the same nesting colony year after year, remembering exactly where their favorite spots are!
Habitat & Survival
Frigatebirds usually build their nests in trees or bushes — places that let them take off easily with long wings. But if there are no trees available, they can also nest on the ground.
Frigatebirds prefer to live on remote tropical islands where there are few predators!
Frigatebirds can’t land on water because their feathers would get waterlogged and make it impossible for them to fly!
Frigatebirds soar into big, fluffy cumulus clouds to ride rising air currents that help them glide high and far without using much energy!
Frigatebirds use updrafts of warm air to soar for hours without flapping their wings!
Frigatebirds often follow groups of dolphins and tuna because these marine animals drive smaller fish to the surface!
Frigatebirds can drink both fresh and salt water, with special glands that help remove excess salt from their bodies!
Life Cycle
Female frigatebirds lay only one egg at a time, which both parents take turns incubating for about 55 days!
Baby frigatebirds stay in their nest for up to six months, which is one of the longest fledging periods of any bird!
Young frigatebirds are fed by both parents through regurgitation for the first few months of their life!
Frigatebirds don’t reach adult plumage or start breeding until they’re much older — usually between 5 and 11 years old!
Baby frigatebirds are born completely featherless, but quickly develop white downy feathers!
Male frigatebirds don’t develop their bright red throat pouch until they’re ready to breed at about 5–7 years old!
Female frigatebirds typically lay their eggs during the dry season when food is most abundant!
Young frigatebirds continue to be fed by their parents even after they learn to fly!
Frigatebird eggs are about the same size as chicken eggs but are a little longer and more pointed!
Diet & Feeding
Frigatebirds never dive into the water — instead, they snatch their prey from the water’s surface with their hooked beaks!
Frigatebirds eat flying fish, squid, and even baby sea turtles that they catch near the ocean’s surface!
Frigatebirds can eat up to about 10% of their body weight in one meal!
