Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

Also known as:Man O'War, Man of War, Pirate Bird

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Identification

Field notes

102 cm (40") Wings 229 cm (90") Oceans. Along coasts but accidental inland after storms. Long narrow wings. Bill is long and hooked. Long forked tail which may appear pointed. Skims the sea and snatches food from surface but does not land. Harasses other birds for food.

Male: All glossy black with an inflatable balloon throat pouch used for courtship.

Female: Blackish brown with white band on underbody around breast and belly.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

2 photos

Credit: Alan Coogan

Credit: Anne Haase

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Magnificent Frigatebird, Fregata magnificens

Credit: Peter Bryant

Magnificent Frigatebird on North Seymour Island, Galapagos, Ecuador

Credit: Fringilla10

Bird Advisor Identification rules 3 variants 3 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Magnificent Frigatebird (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 17 criteria confidence 2

What colour were the WING TIPS ?: Black or dark gray · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Pointed or wedge-shaped · Forked · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Saltwater marsh or wetland · Flat saltwater shore; beach · Rocky saltwater shore; cliff · Open ocean; beyond sight of land · Only or mostly in flight over saltwater
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States · Southwestern United States

result:514-magificent-frigatebird-female:1:1 Source: 514 Magificent Frigatebird (Female), row 1

Magnificent Frigatebird (Immature)

1 rule

Rule 1 17 criteria confidence 2

What colour were the WING TIPS ?: Black or dark gray · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Pointed or wedge-shaped · Forked · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Saltwater marsh or wetland · Flat saltwater shore; beach · Rocky saltwater shore; cliff · Open ocean; beyond sight of land · Only or mostly in flight over saltwater
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States · Southwestern United States

result:515-magnificent-frigatebird-immature:1:1 Source: 515 Magnificent Frigatebird (Immature), row 1

Magnificent Frigatebird (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 2

What colour were the WING TIPS ?: Black or dark gray · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Pointed or wedge-shaped · Forked · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Red, or pink · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Red, or pink · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Saltwater marsh or wetland · Flat saltwater shore; beach · Rocky saltwater shore; cliff · Open ocean; beyond sight of land · Only or mostly in flight over saltwater
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States · Southwestern United States

result:513-magnificent-frigatebird-male:1:1 Source: 513 Magnificent Frigatebird (Male), row 1