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Great Frigatebird

Fregata minor

Least Concern (IUCN Red List)Frigatebirds
Great Frigatebird, photographed by Caiden B

Photo: Caiden B · iNaturalist · CC-BY-NC 4.0 (licence)

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Call and song

About the Great Frigatebird

A large black seabird that holds its wings in a distinctive crook. The long, forked tail may appear pointed when folded. Males are all black with a red throat pouch. Females have a white breast. Immatures have a white head and breast. All-dark plumage of male and lack of a pale “armpit” in female and immature separate this species from Lesser and Christmas Island Frigatebirds. Separation from Magnificent Frigatebird can be difficult; note pale wing panel in males and indistinct pale throat in females (Magnificent females have a clean all-dark head). Nests in trees and bushes on tropical islands. Often seen flying along the shoreline, sometimes very high, and sometimes inland. Chases other seabirds to steal their prey.

Species account: eBird.org, fetched 2025-12-26 · How these pages are made

Where it has been recorded

Recorded in 70 of the 253 countries we have eBird lists for. Each opens that country's checklist.

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