Magnificent Frigatebird
Fregata magnificens
Introduction
A large, acrobatic, black seabird that breeds on tropical islands in the Atlantic (and Pacific) Ocean and is an extremely rare visitor to Britain, typically in the wake of hurricanes.
Key Stats
Population and distribution stats for:
Status and Trends
Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on
BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.
Conservation Status
This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)
Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*
No
Birds Directive Annex 1
No
* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk.
See About Birdfacts for more information.
Population Size
First Record*
Shropshire, 2005 (Isle of Man, 1998)
* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this.
See About Birdfacts for more information.
Population Change
Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.
Distribution
This vagrant has not been recorded in the UK for many decades and as such cannot be mapped.
Distribution Change
This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.
Seasonality
This species has been too rarely reported to BirdTrack during 2011–22 to properly assess seasonality.
Movement
Information about Magnificent Frigatebird movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack),
Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
Britain & Ireland movement
View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report
Biology
Lifecycle and body size information for Magnificent Frigatebird, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan
based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.
Survival and Longevity
Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.
Classification, names and codes
Taxonomy, names and species codes for Magnificent Frigatebird
Classification and Codes
- Order: Pelecaniformes
- Family: Fregatidae
- Scientific name: Fregata magnificens
- Authority: Mathews, 1914
- BTO 5-letter code: MAGFR
- Euring code number: 930
Alternate species names
- Catalan: fregata magnífica
- Czech: fregatka vznešená
- Danish: Pragtfregatfugl
- Dutch: Amerikaanse Fregatvogel
- Estonian: keiser-fregattlind
- Finnish: keisarifregattilintu
- French: Frégate superbe
- German: Prachtfregattvogel
- Hungarian: pompás fregattmadár
- Icelandic: Freigátufugl
- Italian: Fregata magnifica
- Latvian: greznais fregatputns
- Lithuanian: puošnioji fregata
- Norwegian: Praktfregattfugl
- Polish: fregata wielka
- Portuguese: tesourão / rabiforcado
- Slovak: fregata vznešená
- Slovenian: lepa bumica
- Spanish: Rabihorcado magnífico
- Swedish: praktfregattfågel
- English folkname(s): Man O'War Bird
More Evidence
More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com
Partners
Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by
BTO,
RSPB,
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation,
JNCC and other partners.
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