Breeding Location:
Mangrove islands
Breeding Type:
Monogamous, Colonial
Breeding Population:
Rare to casual
Egg Color:
White
Number of Eggs:
1 - 2
Incubation Days:
40 - 50
Egg Incubator:
Both sexes
Nest Material:
Sticks, grasses, and stems of weeds.
Migration:
Nonmigratory
Overview
Magnificent Frigatebird: Large black seabird, orange throat patch inflates into a huge bright red-orange balloon when in courtship display. Long bill is gray, hooked. Wings are long and narrow. Tail is forked; legs and feet are dark gray. Eats fish, crustaceans, jellyfish. High soaring flight.
Range and Habitat
Magnificent Frigatebird: During breeding season, found in coastal Florida and in tropical Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In non-breeding season, occurs from the coast of North Carolina south to Florida and west to Texas; also on the coast of California. Preferred habitats include ocean coasts, bays, and islands; nests on mangrove islands.
Breeding and Nesting
Magnificent Frigatebird: One, rarely two, white eggs are laid in a flimsy platform made of sticks, grass, and stems, usually built in a mangrove, other tree, or bush, 2 to 20 feet above the ground or water; sometimes nests on the ground. Incubation ranges from 40 to 50 days and is carried out by both parents. Most females do not breed every year.
Foraging and Feeding
Magnificent Frigatebird: Eats small fish, squid, jellyfish, crustaceans, hatchling sea turtles, young terns, birds, and their eggs; also scavenges for scraps around fishing boats and docks. Forages by shallow plunge diving or snatching food from the surface; chases terns and forces them to drop their catch.
Readily Eats
Vocalization
Magnificent Frigatebird: Clacks bill and utters nasal "kack" or "ka-ack" during display.
Similar Species
Magnificent Frigatebird: Great Frigatebird has pale brown wing coverts and glossy green head and back.
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