"The frigatebirds are a family, Fregatidae, of seabirds. There are five species in the single genus Fregata. They are also sometimes called Man of War birds or Pirate birds. Since they are related to the pelicans, the term "frigate pelican" is also a name applied to them. They have long wings, tails and bills and the males have a red gular pouch that is inflated during the breeding season to attract a mate.
Frigatebirds are pelagic piscivores which obtain most of their food on the wing. A small amount of their diet is obtained by robbing other seabirds, a behaviour that has given the family its name, and by snatching seabird chicks.
The Magnificent Frigatebird is 100 cm (39 inches) long with a 215 cm (85 inch) wingspan. Males are all black with a scarlet throat pouch which is inflated like a balloon in the breeding season. Although the feathers are black, the scapular feathers are iridescent and produce a purple colour when they refract sunlight. Females are black, but have a white breast and lower neck sides, a brown band on the wings and a blue eye ring. Immature birds have a white head and underparts.
These birds do not swim and cannot walk well, and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan to body weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week, landing only to roost or breed on trees or cliffs."
They should add to this "or masts".
...landing only to roost or breed on trees or cliffs or masts.
I actually saw two of these mast-sitting today...Luckily not on my boat!
And I would have to disagree with Wikipedia's statement of: "A small amount of their diet is obtained by robbing other seabirds".
I think it should say "A HUGE amount of their diet... blah blah blah".
We always see them tormenting other birds and stealing their food.
They are so cool to watch though!
They are amazing "thermal riders".
And when I read the statment: "Immature birds have a white head and underparts".
I mis-read
Underpants?
Since when do birds wear underpants, so then I went back and re-read it.
It's all good.
As long as it is not my mast.
3 comments:
ummmm, I definitely mis-read that they were wearing underpants too. I guess it's cool, some birds wear them, some don't. I don't judge.
Me too. I read it as underpants.
I guess I have more things on my mind than I care to admit in public.
HaHa- Underpants...that is to funny. I guess maybe we should all slow down and take the time to look at all of the letters in the words. I felt dumb by thinking underpants until I realized that others thought the same thing!!!
See you on Saturday!!
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