Frigatebirds, also called man-o'-war-birds, are among the most agile of birds on the wing. They have the largest wingspread in proportion to weight of any bird. In addition to stealing fish from other seabirds, their most famous method of obtaining food, they can soar for hours and often dip down to the surface to pick fish and other marine animals from the water, or skim past a breeding colony of boobies to snatch young birds from their nests. Frigatebirds never alight on the ground or water; their short legs and narrow wings make it difficult for them to take off except from a height, such as the limb of a tree or a rock. Magnificent Frigatebirds do not nest on the Pacific Coast of the United States, but those that wander northward to California (and casually to southern Alaska), probably come from colonies on islands off the western coast of Mexico.

description 38-40" (97-102 cm). W. 7'6" (2.3 m). Black with very long, narrow, pointed wings, deeply forked tail, and long hooked bill. Male has brilliant red throat pouch in breeding season, which it inflates to huge size during courtship. Female has white breast. Young have white heads and underparts.

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