There are two species of Frigatebirds in the Galapagos, the magnificant
frigatebird and the great frigatebird. The Frigate birds have the
largest wingspan-to bodyweight ratio of any bird, making them highly
manuverable and acrobatic fliers. They are named after the ship
used by pirates because they steal and plunder. They are notorious
for stealing food from other birds at every opportunity. An unlucky
booby may be plucked out of the air, dangled by the tail and haken
until it regurgitates its food, which the frigatebird then makes
off with.
When ready to breed, the male frigatebird first finds a suitable
nesting area. Then slowly, over 20 minutes, he pumps air into his
grossly exaggerated, bright red throat pouch until it is the size
of a party balloon. As soon as an adult female flies by he loses
control and erupts into fits of rapturous head shaking and vibrating,
while uttering a shrill, high-pitched cry. Frigatebirds nest in
colonies but defend their own nesting sites. They breed every 2
years. They feed their chicks for 1.5 years - the longest of any
bird.
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Frigatebird in Flight
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Male Frigatebird
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Nesting Frigatebirds
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Female Frigatebird
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Frigatebird Chick
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Male Frigatebird
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