Photos of Great frigatebird (Fregata minor) on Eastern island, Midway, Hawaii, on the tree and over the sea flying.

In 2001, 95 breeding pairs of the Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) were living on Eastern Island in the Midway Atoll/Hawaii. Great Frigatebirds are extremely good flying artists. Their wings have a spread of approximately two metres. The deep-forked tail and their low weight of under two kilograms gives them an extraordinary flying ability. The Great Frigatebirds’ favourite prey are flying fish, but they also hunt for octopusses and other fish found on the water surface. Hatched turtles and sea-bird chicks are especially at risk. Great Frigatebirds are also notorious pirates of the air. In strategically favourable places they wait for sea birds returning from fishing. In the suitable moment they attack them, chase them and harass them until they let go of their prey or disgorge it. The Great Frigatebirds snatch the prey nosediving, most of the time even before it has reached the water surface. Especially the Red-tailed Tropicbirds and the boobies suffer from this. These hold-ups can often be watched in the late afternoon in the sky above the atoll.

Great frigatebirds and Brown Noddys

Great Frigatebirds and Red-footed Boobies

Great Frigatebird

Great Frigatebird and Red-footed Booby chick

Flying Great Frigatebird

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