Great Frigatebird
Fregata minor
Frigatebirds (Fregatidae) · Suliformes · Frigatebirds, Boobies, and Gannets
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How to identify Great Frigatebird
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Often mixed up with
In quizzes, players most often confuse Great Frigatebird with these birds—either this species was picked by mistake, or the other way around.
| Species | Mix-ups |
|---|---|
| Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens | 27 |
| Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel | 14 |
| Christmas Island Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi | 6 |
| Brown Booby Sula leucogaster | 5 |
| Red-footed Booby Sula sula | 4 |
Family
Frigatebirds are a family of seabirds called Fregatidae which are found across all tropical and subtropical oceans. The five extant species are classified in a single genus, Fregata. All have predominantly black plumage, long, deeply forked tails and long hooked bills.
Order
The order Suliformes (, dubbed "Phalacrocoraciformes" by Christidis & Boles 2008) is an order of birds that includes gannets, boobies, frigatebirds, cormorants and darters. The order is recognised by the International Ornithologist's Union. Regarding the recent evidence that the traditional Pelecaniformes is polyphyletic, it has been suggested that the group be divided to reflect the true evolutionary relationships; a 2017 study indicated that they are most closely related to Otidiformes (bustards) and Ciconiiformes (storks).