Christmas Island Frigatebird vs Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata andrewsi compared with Fregata magnificens

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Christmas Island Frigatebird Magnificent Frigatebird
Scientific Name Fregata andrewsi Fregata magnificens
Order Suliformes Suliformes
Family Fregatidae Fregatidae
Conservation Status Vulnerable Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 123.8 cm (48.7 in) 128.4 cm (50.6 in)
Weight 1475.0 g (52.03 oz) 1498.6666666666667 g (52.86 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 1 1
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Christmas Island Frigatebird only

Magnificent Frigatebird only

Conservation Status

Vulnerable

Christmas Island Frigatebird

Least Concern

Magnificent Frigatebird

About These Birds

Christmas Island Frigatebird

89–100 cm. Male all black with red gular pouch; female has distinctive white belly patch extending under wings. Breeds only on Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). Critically Endangered; fewer than 3,000 pairs threatened by mining, habitat loss, and introduced yellow crazy ants. Kleptoparasitic.

Magnificent Frigatebird

89–114 cm, wingspan 217–244 cm. All-black male with glossy purple-green; red gular pouch; female has white breast. Breeds on tropical Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Americas. The largest frigatebird; highly kleptoparasitic. Cannot land on water; soars on thermals for hours.

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