Kingdom : Animalia Class : Aves Family : Fregatidae Scientific Name : Fregata Size(H) : 65cm - 100cm (25in - 39in) Wing Span : 150cm - 250cm (59in - 98in) Weight : 0.9kg - 1.9kg (1.9lbs - 4.2lbs) Top Speed : 15km/h (9mph) Life Span : 15 - 25 years Colour : Black, White, Brown, Red Skin Type : Feathers Distinctive Features : Large wingspan and enlarged red throat of the male
- Frigatebirds are sea birds found in the warm, tropical regions.
- They are also known as the pirate bird and man of war bird.
- They are also related quite closely to pelicans and are also known as the frigate pelicans.
- They are large birds often growing between 65cm and 100cm in height.
- Their enormous wingspan is known to exceed 2m.
- They are black in color
- Distinctively, male frigate birds usually have a throat pouch that is red in color and is inflated during the mating season to attract the females.
- The female frigate birds can be distinguished by a white patch which is present on their underside.
- There are 5 species – The Ascension Frigatebird, The Christmas Frigatebird, The Lesser Frigatebird, The Magnificent Frigatebird and The Great Frigatebird.
- Interestingly, they are known to be air-borne for almost a week at a stretch and land afterwards to rest.
- Their enormous wingspan which is huge in comparison to their body makes this possible.
- Although they are incredible flyers, frigatebirds cannot walk or swim.
- They are carnivores feeding on fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and small turtles.
- Most of the times, they are required to just take their prey from water without landing on water.
- They have no natural predators as they are huge and airborne most of the times.
- Sometimes, their eggs are hunted by domestic cats, rats, and stoats.
- The female frigatebird lays an egg every 2 years and the chicks take around 9 months to rear.