Magnificent Frigatebird
Fregata magnificens
Frigatebirds (Fregatidae) · Suliformes (Suliformes)
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Often mixed up with
In quizzes, players most often confuse Magnificent Frigatebird with these birds—either this species was picked by mistake, or the other way around.
| Species | Mix-ups |
|---|---|
| Great Frigatebird Fregata minor | 24 |
| Brown Booby Sula leucogaster | 8 |
| Sargasso Shearwater Puffinus lherminieri | 2 |
| Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel | 2 |
| Green-throated Carib Eulampis holosericeus | 1 |
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).