Bird Checklists of the United States

The great frigatebird is the largest seabird on Johnston Atoll. It has a forked tail, hooded bill, and a 7-foot wingspan. The adult males possess bright red throat pouches that they inflate during the breeding season. Among the most efficient of soarers, it glides on the wind or thermal updrafts, often harassing other seabirds and stealing their catch. Their aggressive habits extend to the nesting grounds, where they take unattended eggs and chicks of even their own species.