Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Great Frigatebird
Fregata minor
Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) is a member of the Fregatidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 1.3 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Suliformes
- Family Fregatidae Frigatebirds
- Genus Fregata
- Species minor
Where it lives
TrO widespread, islands of tropical Indian and Pacific oceans, local east of eastern Brazil (tropical Atlantic Ocean)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.3 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Fregatidae
- Order
- Suliformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Great Frigatebird hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Great Frigatebird is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) belongs to the Fregatidae family of the order Suliformes. Its range spans Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers TrO widespread, islands of tropical Indian and Pacific oceans, local e of e Brazil (tropical Atlantic Ocean).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.3 kg, with a wing length of about 56.8 cm and a tail of around 39.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 25,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Great Frigatebird?
The Great Frigatebird is a very large bird that weighs around 1.3 kg.
Where does the Great Frigatebird live?
The Great Frigatebird is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering TrO widespread, islands of tropical Indian and Pacific oceans, local e of e Brazil (tropical Atlantic Ocean), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Great Frigatebird belong to?
The Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) belongs to the Fregatidae family, in the order Suliformes.
What does the Great Frigatebird eat?
The Great Frigatebird hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Great Frigatebird migrate?
The Great Frigatebird is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Great Frigatebird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Great Frigatebird make?
1 real field recording of the Great Frigatebird — including its begging call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Great Frigatebird's range?
The Great Frigatebird has a mapped global range of about 25,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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