Frigate is the closest relative of the pelican and cormorant. Fregat family birds look clumsy on Earth, while it is impossible to tear their eyes off in the air from them. Frigates easily perform complex tricks and write out a variety of pirouettes. A favorable habitat is considered tropical and subtropical regions. Soldate bird can be found on the islands located in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
general description
Feathered belong to fairly large birds, the body length of which reaches one meter when wingspan is 220 cm wings. Animal weight is in the range of 1-1.5 kg. The birds are distinguished by a long tail, narrow wings, as well as a bright red inflatable throat bag in males (its diameter can be 24 cm). Female individuals are larger and heavy than male. The females have white throat. The back of birds is usually black with a greenish tint.
The beak of frigates is strong and thin, it can grow up to 38 cm in length. With its help, the bird attacks prey and holds the most slippery victims. As a steering wheel, birds use a tail, which has a bifurcated shape. Animals have a rounded head and a short neck.
Lifestyle and reproduction
Frigates absolutely do not know how to swim and dive. Sometimes, crouching on the water, the bird can no longer take off. The main advantage of frigates is their endurance animals can fly in the air for hours and expect the moment of attack on other birds.
Females choose a male on their own. They pay attention to the partner’s throat bag: the larger it is, the higher the chance to become a couple. Together, future parents build a nest, and after a while the female individual lays one egg. After 7 weeks, the frigates appears a chick.
Food of birds
The main part of the diet of frigate consists of flying fish. Birds also do not mind enjoying jellyfish, chicks, turtle eggs and other oceanic inhabitants. Flying animals do not like to hunt, they often look out for other birds and attack them, selecting prey. The people of frigates are called pirate birds.
Types of birds
There are five of the most common types of frigates:
An amazing feature of all frigates are light bones, which are only 5% of the body weight.
