Fregata magnificens Mathews, 1914

Common Name and Species Classification

Fregata magnificens, commonly called the magnificent frigatebird, is the largest species of frigatebird.

Size Measurements

It has a body length of 89–114 cm (2 ft 11 in – 3 ft 9 in), a wingspan of 2.17–2.44 m (7 ft 1 in – 8 ft 0 in), and a body weight between 1.1 and 1.59 kilograms (2 lb 7 oz – 3 lb 8 oz).

Adult Male Appearance

Adult males are almost entirely black, with a scarlet throat pouch that inflates into a balloon-like shape during the breeding season.

Male Plumage Iridescence

While all body plumage is black, the male's scapular feathers show a purple iridescence when hit by sunlight, which distinguishes it from male great frigatebirds that have a green sheen instead.

Adult Female Appearance

Adult females are also mostly black, but have a white breast and white lower neck sides, a brown wing band, and a characteristic blue eye ring that can be used to identify females of this species.

Immature Plumage

Immature magnificent frigatebirds have a white head and white underparts.

Similarity to Other Frigatebirds

This species is very similar in appearance to other frigatebirds, and matches their size with the exception of the smaller lesser frigatebird.

Distinguishing Morphological Features

Unlike other frigatebird species, it does not have a white axillary spur, and juvenile individuals have a distinct diamond-shaped belly patch.

Vocalization

Magnificent frigatebirds are silent while flying, but produce a range of rattling sounds when at their nests.

Flight Metrics

This species spends both days and nights flying, with an average flapping rate of 2.84 beats per second, a ground speed of 10 km/h (6.2 mph), and can travel up to 223 km (139 mi) before landing.

Flight Altitude Patterns

Individuals alternate climbing into thermals, occasionally reaching altitudes as high as 2,500 m (8,200 ft), with descending back to near the sea surface.

General Distribution

The magnificent frigatebird has a wide distribution across the tropical Atlantic.

Breeding Range

It breeds in large colonies in trees in Florida, the Caribbean, and along the Pacific coast of the Americas from Mexico south to Ecuador, including the Galápagos Islands.

Vagrant Records

It has also been recorded as a vagrant far outside its normal range, reaching locations including the Isle of Man, Denmark, Spain, England, Nova Scotia, the Magdalen Islands, and British Columbia.