Great Frigatebird
Fregata minor
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderSuliformes
- FamilyFregatidae (Frigatebirds)
- GenusFregata (Frigatebirds)
- SpeciesFregata minor (Great Frigatebird)
The great frigatebird (Fregata minor) is a large seabird in the frigatebird family. There are major nesting populations in the tropical Pacific Ocean, such as Hawaii and the Galápagos Islands; in the Indian Ocean, colonies can be found in the Seychelles (on Aldabra and Aride Islands) and Mauritius, and there is a tiny population in the South Atlantic, mostly on and around St. Helena and Boatswain Bird Island (Ascension Island). The great frigatebird is a large and lightly built seabird up to 105 cm long with predominantly black plumage. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism; the female is larger than the adult male and has a white throat and breast, and the male's scapular feathers have a purple-green sheen. In the breeding season, the male is able to distend his striking red gular sac. Wikipedia →
30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Great Frigatebird sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 2,432 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isla del Coco National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 2 | Galápagos Islands | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 3 | Tsavo East National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 4 | Addo Elephant National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 5 | Kerinci Seblat National Park | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 6 | Bali Barat National Park | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 7 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Great Frigatebird in Galápagos Islands?
About 34% of wildlife watchers report a Great Frigatebird sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 2,432 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Great Frigatebird in Galápagos Islands?
June has the highest sighting rate for Great Frigatebird in Galápagos Islands in our monthly data.