Frigatebirds are very graceful birds. The Fregatidae family is made up of five species and the mighty frigate bird is one of these fives species. These birds are known for their large size. They are mainly found in subtropical and tropical areas. They are mostly seen spending time in the open oceans but make their nests on coastal areas and ocean islands. They only appear on inland areas when they want to breed.

Frigate birds are about 3.5 feet long and their wingspan is about six feet. Some of them are dark brown while others are black in color. Their gular pouch is unfeathered and expandable in order to create more storage room. Their male members are bright red in color. Their bills are long and hooked at the end. Their wings are pointed. Their tails are forked. The females are slightly bigger than males although you might not notice this variation in body size if you are not very keen. They normally eat jellyfish, flying fish and squid.

Breeding patterns

A female frigate bird lays a single egg. The incubation period is between 40 and 55 days. The resulting chicks are always altricial. They normally have a whitish down. The parents have to brood and feed these chicks. The fledging age varies from one bird to the other. Generally, it varies between four and a half to seven months.

The post-fledging duration can last for between four and eighteen months depending on a particular species. It takes between four and six years for adult plumage to be reached. The age during which first breeding is realized also varies with species, but it ordinarily ranges between six and eleven years. A frigate bird can live for up to 34 years.

Frigate birds and the food cycle

The main source of food for frigate birds is flying birds. They also eat menhaden, jellyfish and squid. They also like preying on eggs and sometimes chicks belonging to members of their own species. They also feed on boobies, terns, shearwaters and petrels.

Their main predators are rats, humans and domestic cats. Frigate birds can at times kill eggs and chicks belonging to congeners and conspecifics.

Behavior of Frigate birds

Like many birds, frigate birds show unique courtship behavior. Males gather in specific areas where females can see them. Their main show of courtship is inflating their gular sacs, which are very large. They also spread their wings in a show of masculinity.

While courting, the males point their long bills towards the sky. Whenever the female is flying past, every male has to quiver his wings as the bill vibrates in order to produce a very distinctive sound that resembles the booming of large drums.

Once the female has chosen the right male, they court for three days and then spend the next three weeks building a nest. It is the duty of the male to collect all nesting material and gather it at the building site. Copulation takes place inside the nest. For frigate birds, breeding is biennial.