There are five species of frigatebirds: Magnificent, Great, Ascension, Christmas, and Lesser. With their vast wingspans, they can soar above ocean waters for weeks, searching for food.

Two species inhabit the tropical regions of the Americas: Magnificent and Great. If you’ve seen one overhead, you might wonder, “How big is a frigatebird?”

Magnificent frigatebirds are the largest, boasting the largest wingspan to body size ratio of any bird, with wings reaching nearly 2.4 meters (7 feet 10 inches). This allows them to Һunt efficiently over the ocean.

Except for the smaller Lesser frigatebird, all species have wingspans exceeding 2 meters (6 feet 7 inches), at least double their body length. This size enables them to harass other birds mid-flight, steаling their catch, a practice known as kleptoparasitism, earning them the nickname “pirate of the sea.”

All five frigatebird species are noted for their vast wingspans, which allow them to soar above marine waters. The Magnificent frigatebird holds the record for the largest wingspan relative to its body size.

The wingspan of frigatebirds, even the smaller Lesser frigatebird, eclipses the height of the average human. However, their upright height or weight is no match for a human, as they stand only a few inches off the ground and weigh less than 2 kg.

The Magnificent frigatebird is the largest, with a wingspan of up to 244 cm (8 ft).

Frigatebirds have webbed feet and can’t pick up prey with their feet. They use their beaks to carry prey, limited to large fish, squid, jellyfish, and young seabird chicks. Known for kleptoparasitism, they harass other birds mid-air to drop their catch and then swoop down to steаl it.

Frigatebirds aren’t built for hunting on land due to their short legs. Their large wings allow them to soar above marine waters, using thermal lift to cover large areas while scanning for food. Their intimidating presence helps them in kleptoparasitism, forcing smaller birds to drop their prey.

While frigatebirds have the largest wingspan relative to body size, they are not the birds with the largest wingspan. The Dalmatian pelican’s wingspan ranges from 2.70 to 3.20 meters (8.9 to 10.5 feet), and the wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of all living birds, ranging from 2.51 to 3.5 meters (8 feet 3 inches to 11 feet 6 inches).