Frigatebirds are seabirds, closely related to pelicans, and are also called frigate pelicans. They are found in tropical oceans across the world. They usually keep within 100 miles of land, to which they return to roost.

Frigatebirds have the largest wingspan to body weight ratio among birds. They are very light, weighing about 1.5 kg, which enables them to stay aloft for more than a week, landing only to roost or breed.

Frigatebirds are described as ‘kleptoparasites’, because they aggressively pursue and trouble other birds such as pelicans, boobies and gulls to drop the food that they have just caught.

The male and female look quite different — females are larger, black, with white patches on their chests and wings, while males have a red throat pouch called the ‘gular sac’ that they inflate in the breeding season to attract a mate.