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Great Frigatebird Fregata minor *Possibly Breeds on Oahu? A large bird, with long, slender wings. A deeply forked, tail and long, pale blue/grey to blackish hooked bill. Adults have mostly black plumage. Adult males have a red inflatable throat pouch. Legs/feet red to reddish-brown. Females have white breasts and on average are larger than males. Legs/feet pink to reddish-pink. Juveniles have rusty to white heads and throats. Length: 34-40 in; wingspan: 81-91 in. Lacking the ability to take off from water, frigatebirds snatch prey from the ocean surface using their long, hooked bills. Prey primarily consist of fish and squid. Juveniles and adults often obtain food by piracy from boobies, tropicbirds, and shearwaters. Frigatebirds often supplement their diet by this type of harassment. Great frigatebirds range widely over the warm waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans. The world population is estimated at between one-half and one million birds.Frigates nest on Kaula and on most of the NW Hawaiian islands. Nihoa and Laysan are the major Hawaiian colonies, only a few breed near the main islands. Trip Reports By Date Sightings Charts Checklist | Pick-up locations | Links Guestbook | Birding on Oahu Our Land Eco-Tours | Bird Books Oahu Nature Tours Phone:(808) 924-2473 Fax: (808) 924-5395  All content and photos on this website are copyrighted and not to be used or distributed without written permission from Oahu Nature Tours, Inc. and Robin W.Baird |
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