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Great Frigatebird Similar Species Comparison

Main SpeciesGreat Frigatebird

  • Great Frigatebird Adult male

    Adult male

    A large seabird with long, narrow, pointed wings and a long, forked tail that appears pointed when closed. In flight, adult male appears almost entirely black.

    © Eric VanderWerf / Macaulay LibraryAmerican Samoa, November 04, 2017
  • Great Frigatebird Female

    Female

    Female has a white breast, contrasting with the otherwise dark plumage.

    © Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryQueensland, December 02, 2017

  • Adult male and female

    A large, long-winged seabird with a long, hooked bill. Female is larger and has a white breast. Male is all dark below, except for an inflatable red air sac used in courtship displays.

    © Pascal Vagner / Macaulay LibraryGalápagos, May 12, 2012
    Not all videos have sound
  • Great Frigatebird Immature

    Immature

    Immature has mostly white head, neck, and breast.

    © Sharif Uddin / Macaulay LibraryHawaii, August 02, 2017
  • Great Frigatebird Adult male

    Adult male

    Adult male inflates large red throat pouch (gular sac) during courtship displays.

    © Cameron Rutt / Macaulay LibraryHawaii, January 08, 2012

  • Immature

    Immature has mostly white head, neck, and breast. In flight, note long, narrow, M-shaped wings and long, forked tail.

    © Josep del Hoyo / Macaulay LibraryTuamotu-Gambier, September 13, 2013
    Not all videos have sound
  • Great Frigatebird Juvenile

    Juvenile

    Juvenile has cinnamon-colored head and breast.

    © Olivier Langrand / Macaulay LibraryGalápagos, December 18, 2017
  • Great Frigatebird Adult male

    Adult male

    Long, hooked bill is used to pluck flying fish and squid from just below the ocean surface.

    © Margot Oorebeek / Macaulay LibraryQueensland, September 06, 2015

  • Flock

    Often soars in loose groups, with birds taking advantage of thermal updrafts or strong winds to stay aloft for hours with only occasional wingbeats.

    © Josep del Hoyo / Macaulay LibraryPitcairn Islands, September 09, 2013
    Not all videos have sound
  • Great Frigatebird Female

    Female

    Soars for hours or even days with only occasional deep wingbeats.

    © Sam Wilson / Macaulay LibraryHawaii, April 28, 2018
  • Great Frigatebird Female

    Female

    Long, pointed wings form a large, open “M” in flight.

    © Lucas Bobay / Macaulay LibraryHawaii, December 27, 2017
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