CHRISTMAS FRIGATEBIRD

Photographed on Christmas Island, December 2016

949            CHRISTMAS FRIGATEBIRD             Frigata andrewsi

AUSTRALIA (Cocos Island)            678

Also known as Christmas Island Frigatebird.   Found in tropical seas, oceanic islands, coasts. Breeds April-June, Christmas Island; ranges through tropical Indian Ocean to coasts of India, se Asia to Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Philippines. Critically endangered.

LESSER FRIGATEBIRD

Photographed in Denpasar, Bali October 2016

(see    288)               LESSER FRIGATEBIRD                   Fregata ariel

INDONESIA (Bali)         (22)        

A pelagic bird which sometimes flies across land; catches fish and squids from surface waters, female will chase terns for their catch. 76 cm. Most common frigatebird in Indonesia; Ranges across tropical oceans worldwide; roams widely during non-breeding season.

GREAT FRIGATEBIRD

photographed at Lockhart River jetty, Queensland October 2015

691            GREAT FRIGATEBIRD           Fregata minor

Australia         (533)

Also known as Man-o'-war Bird or Hawk. Found in tropical or sub-tropical seas, coastlines or islands. Range: breeds on islands in Coral Sea, incl. outer Gt Barrier Reef. Largest local breeding stations are Christmas and Cocos Is. in Indian Ocean. Scarce coastal n. Aust.; regular on islands of Gt Barrier Reef and offshore s. to Fraser Is (Q); casual coastal se Q and ne. NSW. 

Comment:  when first named 1789, it was called the Lesser Pelican, Pelecanus minor, so the Latin minor still stands.

LESSER FRIGATEBIRD

Photographed above Captain Billy's Landing, Cape York.

288             LESSER FRIGATEBIRD            Fregata ariel

Australia       (258)

Also known as Man-o'-war Bird. Range: breeds islands and cays off tropical n. Australia;regular summer/autumn visitor to coastal n. Australia, s. to se. Queensland, n. NSW, off n. WA coast. Found in tropical and subtropical seas, coasts and islands. 70-82 cm, wingspan 1.8-1.9 m, female larger.