Category: Birds
The Magnificent Frigatebird is the largest species of frigatebird and is common in the tropical and sub-tropical waters off America on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. They have brownish-black plumage, a deeply forked tail, and long, narrow wings. The males are recognized by their large, bright red neck (gular) sacs that they can inflate to attract a mate. In addition to eating fish plucked from the ocean’s surface while in flight, they are also known to engage in “kleptoparasitism,” a curious adaptation wherein they harass another bird until it regurgitates its catch.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Magnificent_Frigatebird/id
A Truly Amazing Race…
Many species of birds migrate when the weather changes, but some species take their journeys to extremes. The Arctic tern tops this list: it flies from the Arctic to Antarctic and back again every year of its life! In 2013, scientists tracked Arctic terns nesting in the Netherlands and discovered that they flew 56,000 miles per year! With a lifespan of approximately 30 years, this means these birds fly over 1.5 million miles over the course of their lives! Because the distance they migrate is so enormous, they don’t just get better weather and more abundant food each year, they get more daylight than any other animal on the planet!
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