Frigatebirds (genus Fregata, family Fregatidae) fly Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.

Frigatebirds (in the genus Fregata, in the family Fregatidae) sail the breeze over a ship in the Galápagos Islands, a province of Ecuador, 972 km west of the continent of South America. Related to pelicans, some call them a "frigate pelican". They have long wings, tails and bills and the males have a red gular pouch that is inflated during the breeding season to attract a mate. Frigatebirds are pelagic piscivores which obtain most of their food on the wing. A small amount of their diet is obtained by robbing other seabirds, a behavior that has given the family its name, and by snatching seabird chicks. Frigatebirds are seasonally monogamous, and nest colonially. A rough nest is constructed in low trees or on the ground on remote islands. A single egg is laid each breeding season. The duration of parental care in frigatebirds is the longest of any bird.

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Filename: 09ECU-4614_Galapagos.jpg
Copyright: © Tom Dempsey / Photoseek.com
Image Size: 4800x3331 / 2.8MB; http://www.photoseek.com/; Animalia Aves Ecuador Galapagos Islands Pacific Ocean South America adventure animal avian bird equator nature ocean sea life travel vertebrate wildlife animal
Contained in galleries: ECUADOR: Galapagos Islands

Frigatebirds (in the genus Fregata, in the family Fregatidae) sail the breeze over a ship in the Galápagos Islands, a province of Ecuador, 972 km west of the continent of South America. Related to pelicans, some call them a "frigate pelican". They have long wings, tails and bills and the males have a red gular pouch that is inflated during the breeding season to attract a mate. Frigatebirds are pelagic piscivores which obtain most of their food on the wing. A small amount of their diet is obtained by robbing other seabirds, a behavior that has given the family its name, and by snatching seabird chicks. Frigatebirds are seasonally monogamous, and nest colonially. A rough nest is constructed in low trees or on the ground on remote islands. A single egg is laid each breeding season. The duration of parental care in frigatebirds is the longest of any bird.