Magnificent Frigatebird

Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)

Magnificent Frigatebird

Order : Pelecaniformes
A diverse group of aquatic birds that fall into three suborders; Pelicani (Pelicans, Darters, Cormorants and Boobies) Fregatae ( Frigate birds ) and Phaethones ( Tropic birds). All are fairly large birds and all have webbed feet. Each suborder then having specialized adaptations for the different ways of life, the Frigatebird never alighting on water while the Anhinga swims underwater for extended periods of time.

Family : Frigatebirds (Fregatidae)
There are only five species in the order Fregatidae, and only one genera Fregata, as all are very closely related. They are large all black, or black and white birds, with long wings and forked tails. The males having coloured inflatable throat patches. They are incapable of swimming and do not walk. They are also incapable of taking off from a flat surface. The are essentially aerial birds, spending all day on the wing and only landing to roost or breed on cliff edges or in trees. Frigatebirds often steal fish, their main diet, from other sea birds or from each other in flight, using their speed, manoeuvrability and size to force there victim to drop their catch, which the Frigatebird then plummets to retrieve. Their long bill is adapted to snatching fish or small sea turtles near the surface of the water.

Name : Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)
Length : 95 - 110 cm ( 37 - 43 in )
Local Names : Man o’ War Bird

Nesting in low trees on remote undisturbed Islands, the Frigatebird lays one white egg and both parents attend to the nest. The Orange - red inflatable patch is used by the male to attract it’s mate. Egg laying occurs usually between October to December, but because of the slow growth of the young, colonies may be occupied throughout most of the year. With it’s large wingspan (in excess of 2 meters or 7 feet ) the Frigatebird is easy to identify either gliding high above the Island, or swooping low to snatch fish from the surface of the water. The Frigatebird can often be seen at close quarters around the Island when fishermen bring in their catch, joining Seagulls in a mad rush to grab the scraps thrown back into the sea, usually in groups of between 12 to 50 individuals.


#Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens Man o’ War Bird Frigatebirds Fregatae Fregatidae Pelecaniformes aquatic birds seabirds sea bird Birds of the West Indies Caribbean birds birds birds of Tobago


Bird identification photos

Brown Pelican

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

Brown Pelican

Order : Pelecaniformes
A diverse group of aquatic birds that fall into three suborders; Pelicani (Pelicans, Darters, Cormorants and Boobies) Fregatae ( Frigate birds ) and Phaethones ( Tropic birds). All are fairly large birds and all have webbed feet. Each suborder then having specialised adaptations for the different ways of life, the Frigatebird never alighting on water while the Anhinga swims underwater for extended periods of time.

Family : Pelicans (Pelecanidae)
Having been around for over 40 million years the pelican is found on every continent except Antarctica. They are birds of coastal and inland waters where different species have adapted two main ways of obtaining food. The most popular used by White Pelicans is group fishing where they form a line to chase schools of small fish into shallow water where they simply scoop them up. Larger fish are caught with the tip of the bill, thrown up, and swallowed head first. Plunge diving is the second method of fishing used almost exclusively by Brown Pelicans where the Pelican will dive into the water usually folding it’s wings at the last moment. They often fish in small groups, and can be accompanied by Sea Gulls like the Laughing Gull which will attempt to steal the catch literally right from the birds mouth. Pelicans nest colonially, the male bringing the nesting material, the female heaping it up to form a simple structure. Pairs are monogamous for a single season at the nest, but continue to feed independently.

Name :Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
Length 105 - 140 cm ( 41 - 55 in )

The Brown Pelican is the smallest member of the Pelican family. It lives strictly on coasts from Washington and Cape Cod to the mouth of the Amazon River, nesting in colonies usually on small Islands. The nest can vary from a simple scrape on the ground to a bulky stick nest made in small trees. The Brown Pelican can usually be seen flying in small groups in single file, often flying mere feet above the water surface. They catch they prey, exclusively fish, by plunge diving head first into the water, giving an aerial display that can continue for hours at a time, resting on the waters surface as needed. The fish are caught in the long bill which has a large throat patch underneath, swallowed quickly, before taking off for another foray. They are mostly brown above, grey- white below with large wings that can span up to 3 meters.

#Brown Pelican #Pelecanus occidentalis #Pelicans #Pelecanidae #Pelecaniformes #aquatic birds #Seabird #Sea Bird #coastal birds #bird #birds of Tobago

Bird identification pictures

Anhinga

Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)

Anhinga

Order : Pelecaniformes
Darters are a small family of only four species spread across the world. The Indian Anhinga melanogaster, the African Anhinga rufa, the Australian Anhinga novaehollandiae, and the American Anhinga anhinga. They are similar to cormorants, but can be distinguished by their long, thin necks, and they have pointed rather than hooked bills. They do not plunge into water for fish, but pursue their prey under water.


Family : Darters (Anhingidae)
A diverse group of aquatic birds that fall into three suborders; Pelicani (Pelicans, Darters, Cormorants and Boobies) Fregatae ( Frigate birds ) and Phaethones ( Tropic birds). All are fairly large birds and all have webbed feet. Each suborder then having specialised adaptations for the different ways of life, the Frigatebird never alighting on water while the Anhinga swims underwater for extended periods of time.

Name : Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)
Length : 86 cm ( 34 in )
Local Names : Snake Bird, Corura Real

Above the water the Anhinga can be seen soaring high in the sky on motionless wings, often circling a body of water several times before deciding the area is safe or perched near the waters edge with wings outstretched as if warming or drying itself. Underwater, the Anhinga’s long slightly serrated bill is used to spear fish, it’s only diet. Although a strong swimmer, the Anhinga will readily surface to keep a close eye out for predators, and will often float just below the surface with only it’s head and neck visible, moving in a gentle ‘s’ shape resembling a snake. Though several birds may be seen at the same location the Anhinga hunts alone but nests in small colonies usually among Mangroves.

#Anhinga #Snake Bird #Corura Real #Darters #Anhingidae #Pelicani #Pelecaniformes #birds #birds of Tobago

Identifying Bird pictures