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The smallest of the frigatebirds, but note that the female is larger than the male.
Not listed
Indigenous: Sea Hawk, Least Frigatebird, Man-O'-War Hawk, Lesser Frigate-Bird
At a glance
FamilyFrigatebirds
SizeLarge
RarityCommon
HabitatClosed forest, Open woodland, Shrubland, Sparse woodland, and Waterbodies
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from October to January.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Powys, V.
Range map
Range map
651visible hotspots
5420visible records
4states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Adult males are almost entirely black with a red throat and white spurs emanating outwards from the body onto the wing. Adult females have a black belly and throat, a white breast and hind collar, with similar white spurs on their sides. Juvenile and immature plumages are variable and are best separated from other frigatebirds by size when comparison is possible. Mostly silent except while breeding in oceanic islands. Strongly pelagic during non-breeding season but wind-blown or fatigued birds can be found from continental coasts.
Behavior
Adults are easier to identify than younger birds.
Gallery