Are there frigate birds in Key West?

Yes, there are frigate birds found in Key West, Florida. Frigate birds are large, black seabirds with long, pointed wings and deeply forked tails. They are known for their aerial maneuverability and their habit of harassing other birds to steal their caught fish. Two species of frigatebird are found around Key West – the Magnificent Frigatebird and the Great Frigatebird.

Overview of frigate birds

Frigate birds belong to the family Fregatidae, which contains five species found across tropical and subtropical coasts around the world. Here are some key facts about frigate birds:

• They have the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, allowing them to stay aloft for extended periods.
• Their feathers are not waterproof, so they do not land on the water and cannot dive or swim.
• They feed mainly by stealing food from other birds through harassment, a behavior known as kleptoparasitism.
• They have a distinctive scissor-like bill with sharp hooked tips.
• Males have a bright red throat pouch called a gular sac which they inflate to attract females.
• They make nests out of sticks in bushes and trees.

Frigate bird species in Key West

There are two species of frigatebirds that occur around Key West – the Magnificent Frigatebird and the Great Frigatebird. Here is an overview of each species:

Magnificent Frigatebird

• Scientific name: Fregata magnificens
• Size: 89–114 cm long, wingspan up to 2.3 m
• Identifying features:
  • Entirely black plumage
  • Long, narrow, pointed wings
  • Deeply forked tail
  • Long hooked bill
  • Red gular sac (males only)
• Habitat: Coastal areas, nests in bushes and trees
• Diet: Fish, squid, crustaceans stolen from other birds
• Range: Widespread in tropical Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans

The Magnificent Frigatebird is the most common and widespread frigatebird species. In Florida, it is a year-round resident species along both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is regularly seen soaring overhead in Key West.

Great Frigatebird

• Scientific name: Fregata minor
• Size: 81–105 cm long, wingspan up to 2.2 m
• Identifying features:
  • Entirely black plumage
  • Long, narrow, pointed wings
  • Deeply forked tail
  • Long hooked bill
  • Red gular sac (males only)
• Habitat: Coastal areas, nests in bushes and trees
• Diet: Fish, squid, crustaceans stolen from other birds
• Range: Tropical Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans

The Great Frigatebird is very similar to the Magnificent but is slightly smaller. In Florida, it is an occasional visitor along both coasts. Sightings are less common than the Magnificent, but Great Frigatebirds can be seen around Key West on occasion.

Identifying frigate birds

When viewed overhead, the silhouette of a frigatebird in flight is unmistakable. They have extraordinarily long, slender wings and a deeply forked tail. Some tips for identification:

• Look for black plumage, long wings, forked tail, and swift graceful flight.
• Watch for kleptoparasitic behavior – harassing other birds for their food.
• Listen for rattling sounds made with their bills during courtship displays.
• Scan for the inflated red gular sac on breeding males.
• Note size – Magnificent Frigatebirds are slightly larger than Great Frigatebirds.
• Check range – Magnificent Frigatebirds are regulars, Great Frigatebirds are rare visitors.

Here is a handy identification chart:

Where to see frigate birds in Key West

Here are some of the top places to spot frigate birds in and around Key West:

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

This park on the southwest tip of Key West contains critical nesting and roosting habitat for frigate birds. Scan the skies above the old civil war fort for soaring frigates. Watch for courtship displays and nesting activity in the trees.

Dry Tortugas National Park

Located 70 miles west of Key West, this remote island chain is a key nesting site and contains the largest frigate bird colony in the continental U.S. Nesting season is December to July. Accessible only by boat or seaplane.

Southernmost Point Buoy

Frigate birds frequently soar overhead at this iconic landmark at the corner of South St and Whitehead St. Photograph frigates with the red, black, and yellow buoy in the background.

Higgs Beach

Scan for frigate birds from the sandy beach or shade structures at this popular beach on the Atlantic shore. prime spot during seabird migration from April through May.

Sunset Pier

This long pier extending into the Gulf of Mexico offers excellent views of frigate birds gliding past at sunset when they return to roosting sites. Located at the end of White Street.

Key West Harbor

Frigates steal fish from pelicans and other birds near the busy harbor. Look for aerial piracy near the cruise ship docks and Mallory Square. Prime viewing from boats, ferries or jetties.

Frigate bird behavior and ecology

Here are some key facts about the behavior and ecology of frigate birds:

Feeding

• Diet consists mostly of fish, squid and crustaceans stolen from other seabirds.
• Use their speed and aerial agility to harass other birds until they regurgitate food, which the frigate bird then catches.
• Sometimes hunt flying fish that leap out of the water.
• Also eat eggs and chicks stolen from nests.
• Have excellent eyesight to spot food from far away.

Breeding

• Nest colonially in bushes, mangroves, and trees.
• Males perform courtship displays, inflating the red gular sac.
• Females lay only one egg per clutch.
• Both parents incubate eggs and feed chicks.
• Chicks fledge at 3-4 months old.
• Breeding populations declining due to habitat loss and disruptions.

Migration

• Magnificent frigatebirds are resident breeders in the Keys.
• Great frigatebirds are occasional visitors, more common in summer/fall.
• Some northern populations migrate, traveling huge distances.
• Have been tracked migrating over 4,500 miles between breeding sites.

Adaptations

• Lightweight skeleton and large wing area enable incredibly agile flight.
• Can fly continuously for days and nights.
• Feathers not waterproof, so cannot land on water.
• To drink, skim the water surface and swallow droplets.
• Main defense is regurgitating smelly oily liquid.

Threats and conservation

Some key threats facing frigate bird populations:

• Habitat destruction – nesting sites lost to development
• Disturbance of nesting colonies
• Pollution – prone to oil spills, trash ingestion
• Climate change altering food supplies
• Overfishing reducing food availability

Conservation actions needed:

• Protect nesting and roosting habitat
• Reduce disturbances and enforce regulations at colonies
• Control pollution and marine debris
• Sustainable fishing practices to maintain prey populations
• Climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies

In Florida, frigatebirds are listed as a Species of Special Concern by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission due to declining populations, making conservation actions important. Expanding protected areas around critical sites like the Dry Tortugas will help ensure frigate birds remain part of Florida’s avifauna.

Conclusion

The distinctive frigate birds are an iconic sight in the skies above Key West and the Florida Keys. With some conservation measures, important nesting habitats can be protected so that Magnificent Frigatebirds remain common year-round residents and Great Frigatebirds continue to occasionally visit. Watching their graceful aerial maneuvers and complex feeding behaviors makes them one of the most interesting of Key West’s wildlife inhabitants. Whether soaring high on the winds or harassing other birds near the busy harbor, frigate birds add a touch of the tropical seaside to any trip to Key West.