Lesser Frigatebird
Fregata ariel
Frigatebirds (Fregatidae) · Suliformes (Suliformes)
Play a quiz with Lesser Frigatebird and similar species
View all photos, video and sound
Review needed
Birdr is a community-driven project, and many photos still need a human check. If you know this bird, you can help by reviewing its images.
Often mixed up with
In quizzes, players most often confuse Lesser Frigatebird with these birds— either this species was picked by mistake, or the other way around.
| Species | Mix-ups |
|---|---|
| Great Frigatebird Fregata minor | 8 |
| Christmas Island Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi | 6 |
| Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia | 1 |
| Short-tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris | 1 |
| Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens | 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).