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