Lesser Frigatebird

This species is defined as a Review Species . Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page .

Scientific Name: Fregata ariel

Malay Name: Simbang Kecil

Chinese Name: 白斑军舰鸟

Range: Breeds in tropical and subtropical Indian, Pacific and south Atlantic Oceans with non-breeder wanders widely to the coastal seas of southern Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: trinitatis, iredalei, ariel.

Local Subspecies: ariel

Size: 71-81 cm

Identification: Male has overall blackish plumage with prominent whitish patches extending from side of body to inner underwing-coverts and red gular pouch. Female has black hood and belly with white on the rest of underparts, extending in axillary spur onto inner underwing-coverts. Juvenile resembles female but has rufous to brownish white head, white belly and black breast-band. Apart from size, difficult to distinguish from juvenile Christmas Frigatebird but possibly has narrower black breast-band.

Similar looking species: Christmas Frigatebird

Habitat: Open seas

Behaviour/Ecology: Catches flying fish in mid-flight and harasses other sea birds to force them to disgorge their catch which is then caught in mid-air.

Local Status: Very rare visitor

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2018)

Featured articles:

Featured reports: Oct 2023

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Note that records currently under review are also not displayed, and the list may not be a full list of records of this species in Singapore. For more details, check the database here.

Juvenile Lesser Frigatebird at Straits of Singapore. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Female Lesser Frigatebird at Straits of Singapore. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Male Lesser Frigatebird at Jakarta Bay. Photo credits: Wong Lee Hong
Male Lesser Frigatebird at Jakarta Bay. Photo credits: Wong Lee Hong
External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Lesser Frigatebird)

References:

BirdLife International. (2018). Fregata ariel. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22697738A132598822.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Lesser Frigatebird. Retrieved on April 21, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/lesser-frigatebird.

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