Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Magnificent Frigatebird
Fregata magnificens
Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) — 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 Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) is a member of the Fregatidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 1.5 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 magnificens
Where it lives
Eastern Pacific Ocean (western Mexico to Ecuador), Atlantic Ocean (eastern Mexico and Florida to Brazil), and Cape Verde Is. (where almost extinct)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.5 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 Magnificent 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 Magnificent Frigatebird is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) is a member of the Fregatidae family, within the order Suliformes. Its range spans Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers AO, PO e Pacific Ocean (w Mexico to Ecuador), Atlantic Ocean (e Mexico and Florida to Brazil), and Cape Verde Is. (where almost extinct).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.5 kg, with a wing length of about 64.2 cm and a tail of around 44 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 191,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Magnificent Frigatebird?
The Magnificent Frigatebird is a very large bird that weighs around 1.5 kg.
Where does the Magnificent Frigatebird live?
The Magnificent Frigatebird is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering AO, PO e Pacific Ocean (w Mexico to Ecuador), Atlantic Ocean (e Mexico and Florida to Brazil), and Cape Verde Is. (where almost extinct), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Magnificent Frigatebird belong to?
The Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) belongs to the Fregatidae family, in the order Suliformes.
What does the Magnificent Frigatebird eat?
The Magnificent Frigatebird hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Magnificent Frigatebird migrate?
The Magnificent Frigatebird is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Magnificent 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 Magnificent Frigatebird make?
1 real field recording of the Magnificent Frigatebird — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Magnificent Frigatebird's range?
The Magnificent Frigatebird has a mapped global range of about 191,000 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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