great frigate bird

The great frigate bird is one of five species of large seabirds in the family Fregatidae. These birds are characterized by their long, slender wingspans, which can reach nearly 8 feet, and their long, deeply forked tails. Adult males are entirely black, while females have white undersides. A notable feature is their bare-skinned throat pouch, which males inflate into a bright red display during courtship.1

Frigate birds are highly aerial, spending most of their time in flight and only landing to sleep or nest. They are skilled at soaring and can dive to catch fish dropped by other seabirds or snatch them from the water's surface. They inhabit tropical and subtropical coasts worldwide, typically staying within 100 miles of land. They breed in colonies on islands, with both parents incubating a single egg.1