General
Great Frigatebird: Large mostly glossy green-black seabird with brown band on base of secondaries and red throat patch that is inflated during courtship displays. Very long, pointed wings and long, forked tail. They have short legs and webbed feet. Their bills are long and hook-tipped. Female is larger; has dull red eye ring, pale gray throat and white breast. Juvenile has tawny head and breast, white belly and vent. They never land on water. They lack the oil-secreting gland which keeps the seabirds' feathers dry.
Breeding and Nesting
Great Frigatebird: Nests are generally platforms built of twigs, sticks and other materials on the same trees or bushes that were used by males for courtship displays. This results in clustered nesting colonies of three to 50 nests. One dull white egg is laid in a large nest. Eggs are incubated immediately after laying by both sexes for 55 days. The young begin to fly at 150 days.
Foraging and Feeding
Great Frigatebird: These birds are best known for their kleptoparasitic habits; they frequently steal food from other sea birds by harassing them until they drop their prey or regurgitate a recent meal. They mainly eat flying fish and squid. Most foraging occurs over deep ocean waters in areas where upwelling, divergence, or convergence brings nutrient rich water close to the surface.
Vocalization
Great Frigatebird: Usually silent when not in breeding colonies. During mating, displaying males produce a warbling "hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo."
Similar Species
Great Frigatebird: Lesser Frigatebird is smaller and male has white patches that extend from the flank to the underwing.