Christmas frigatebird

Home   ›   Great frigatebird   ›   Christmas frigatebird - Fregata andrewsi.

The Christmas frigatebird (Fregata andrewsi) belongs to the family Fregatidae. These frigatebird species is distributed in Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean.

Taxonomy of Christmas frigatebird

• Scientific Name: Fregata andrewsi
• Common Name: Christmas frigatebird
• French: Frégate d’Andrews; German: Weißbauch-Fregattvogel; Spanish: Rabihorcado de la Christmas;
• Other names: Christmas Island frigatebird;
• Family: Fregatidae › Suliformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
• Species author: Mathews, 1914
  

Fregata andrewsi species was earlier included in F. aquila. It is closely related to the great frigatebird (F. minor).

Indian birds - Christmas Island frigatebird - Fregata andrewsi

Description

The Christmas frigatebird species measures 90 to 100 cm in length. The male weighs about 1,400 gram. The female frigatebird is slightly larger and weighs about 1,550 grams. It is mostly black with white belly patch and the tail is forked. The male has a red gular pouch. The bill is long dark and hooked.

Habitat

The breeding habitat is tall forest trees in the Christmas Islands. The non-breeding birds wander about foraging in the Indian Ocean, South China Sea, Andaman Sea, Gulf of Thailand and Sulu Sea.

Feeding habits

These frigatebirds feed by plucking the prey out of water. They feed on squids, flying fish and other marine animals. They also snatch feed from other seabirds.

Breeding

These frigatebird species breeds once in two years and only one chick is produced. They nest on tall trees.

Distribution

These bird species is endemic to Christmas Islands in the Indian Ocean. These frigatebirds breed only in these Islands. After raising the chicks they disperse to surrounding seas, to return after two years for breeding.

Movement Patterns

These frigate species are sedentary. They breed only in these islands and foraging in the surrounding seas.

Status and conservation

The population of these birds has declined by around 66% over the last three generations. As these birds breed once in two years and have only one chick, with all the conservation efforts the recovery is very slow. They are considered critically endangered.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated these frigatebird species and has listed them as "Critically Endangered".

Biological classification of Fregata andrewsi
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Suliformes
Family:	Fregatidae
Subfamily:	-
Genus:	Fregata
Species:	F. andrewsi
Binomial name:	Fregata andrewsi
Distribution:	Indian Ocean;
Feeding habits:	squid, flying fish and other fish;
IUCN status listing:	Critically Endangered

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Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_Island_Frigatebird.JPG
Author: Shah Jahan | License: CC BY-SA 3.0.
Current topic in Birds of India: Christmas frigatebird - Fregata andrewsi.

Great frigatebird

Home   ›   Lesser frigatebird   ›   Great frigatebird - Fregata minor.

The great frigatebird (Fregata minor) belongs to the family Fregatidae. The great frigatebird species is distributed in Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean.

Taxonomy of Great frigatebird

• Scientific Name: Fregata minor
• Common Name: Great frigatebird
• French: Frégate du Pacifique German: Bindenfregattvogel Spanish: Rabihorcado grande;
• Other names: Pelecanus minor J. F. Gmelin, 1789;
• Family: Fregatidae › Suliformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
• Species author: (Gmelin, 1789)

Fregata minor species was earlier included in the genus Pelecanus. It was formerly included in F. aquila. It is closely related to the Christmas Island frigatebird (F. andrewsi). The five recognized subspeices are: F. m. aldabrensis Mathews, 1914, F. m. minor (J. F. Gmelin, 1789), F. m. palmerstoni (J. F. Gmelin, 1789), F. m. ridgwayi Mathews, 1914 and F. m. nicolli Mathews, 1914.

Indian birds - Great frigatebird - Fregata minor

Description

The great frigatebird species is a large bird, the male measuring 80 to 100cm in length and weighing 1,000 to 1,450 grams. The female frigatebird is larger than the male and weighs 1,200 to 1,650 grams. The wingspan is 180 to 230 cm. The plumage is mostly black. The female has white feathers on the throat and chest. The male scapular feathers have a purple-green sheen. The gular sac in the male is distensible and is strikingly bright red in color.

Habitat

The great frigatebird species gather for breeding in remote islands and nest in mangroves or bushes and occasionally on the bare ground. Non-breeding frigatebirds wander in the open seas in search of feed.

Feeding habits

The great frigatebird species feed on pelagic waters, catching squids, flying fish and other fish. They are known for snatching feed from other birds. They also prey on chicks of seabirds.

Breeding

The great frigatebird species are seasonally monogamous. They nest on the trees, bushes and also on the ground in the absence of vegetation. The male great frigatebird collects the nesting material and the female constructs the nest. The female lays a single egg. Both the parents take part in incubating the egg and rearing the chick.

Distribution

The subspecies F. m. aldabrensis is distributed in western Indian Ocean. The subspecies F. m. minor occurs in Indian Ocean, Southeast Asian seas and South Pacific Ocean. The subspecies F. m. palmerstoni occurs in Central and Western Pacific Ocean. The subspecies F. m. ridgwayi is distributed in Eastern Pacific Ocean. The subspecies F. m. nicolli occurs in South Atlantic Ocean.

Movement Patterns

The great frigatebird has a wide distribution throughout the world’s tropical seas. They come to the land for breeding in colonies in remote islands. Once the chick raising is over, the great frigatebirds disperse widely and migrate for long distances. They come back to same colonies for breeding.

Status and conservation

The population size of these frigatebirds is large and are least vulnerable. Human activity in the breeding habitats and fishing activities near the breeding habitats are the threats for their survival.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated these frigatebird species and has listed them as of "Least Concern".

Biological classification of Fregata minor
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Suliformes
Family:	Fregatidae
Subfamily:	-
Genus:	Fregata
Species:	F. minor
Binomial name:	Fregata minor
Distribution:	Indian Ocean, Asian seas, Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean;
Feeding habits:	squid, flying fish and other fish;
IUCN status listing:	Least Concern

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Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Great_Frigatebird_at_Genovesa.JPG
Author: Jason Corriveau | License: Public domain.
Current topic in Birds of India: Great frigatebird - Fregata minor.

Lesser frigatebird

Home   ›   Dalmatian pelican   ›   Lesser frigatebird - Fregata ariel.

The lesser frigatebird (Fregata ariel) belongs to the family Fregatidae. The lesser frigatebird species is distributed in Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean.

Taxonomy of Lesser frigatebird

• Scientific Name: Fregata ariel
• Common Name: Lesser frigatebird
• French: Frégate ariel; German: Arielfregattvogel; Spanish: Rabihorcado chico;
• Other names: Atagen ariel G. R. Gray, 1845;
• Family: Fregatidae › Suliformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
• Species author: (Gray, 1845)

Fregata ariel species was earlier included in the genus Atagen. The three recognized subspeices are: F. a. iredalei Mathews, 1914, F. a. ariel (G. R. Gray, 1845) and F. a. trinitatis Miranda-Ribeiro, 1919.

Indian birds - Lesser frigatebird - Fregata ariel

Description

The lesser frigatebird species is a medium sized bird, the male measuring 65 to 80 cm in length and weighing 600 to 900 grams. The female frigatebird is a larger bird and weighs 750 to 950 grams. The wingspan is 150 to 200 cm. The frigatebird has brown-black plumage, long narrow wings and a deeply forked tail. The belly and breast have white feathers.

Habitat

The breeding habitats of the frigatebird are remote islands, marshes, mangroves and bushes. Outside breeding season, they move about open seas and oceans in search of food.

Feeding habits

The lesser frigatebird species feed mainly on fish, especially flying fish. They also feed on other fish, squids and chicks of other birds and they also snatch feed from other birds.

Breeding

Breeding season of these frigatebirds occurs in May and December. They nest on trees and also on ground. The nest usually contains a single egg. Both the frigatebird parents take care of the chick.

Distribution

The subspecies F. a. iredalei is distributed in the area adjoining Indian Ocean. The subspecies F. a. ariel is distributed in Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Pacific Ocean. The subspecies F. a. trinitatis is distributed in South Atlantic Ocean.

Movement Patterns

The lesser frigatebird species are dispersed in the tropical oceans. Outside the breeding season, the birds are sedentary and individually dispersed. During the breeding season they congregate in breeding colonies.

Status and conservation

The lesser frigatebird range and population size are very large and these species are not vulnerable. The breeding habitat degradation and human activity in the breeding grounds are the major threats to survival of these species.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated these frigatebird species and has listed them as of "Least Concern".

Biological classification of Fregata ariel
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Suliformes
Family:	Fregatidae
Subfamily:	-
Genus:	Fregata
Species:	F. ariel
Binomial name:	Fregata ariel
Distribution:	Indian Ocean, Asian seas, Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean;
Feeding habits:	squid, flying fish and other fish;
IUCN status listing:	Least Concern

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Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lesser_frigatebird_lei.jpg
Author: Aviceda | License: CC-BY-3.0.
Current topic in Birds of India: Lesser frigatebird - Fregata ariel.