Lesser Frigatebird

Fregata ariel (Gray, GR, 1845)

Lesser Frigatebird, Fregata ariel, is a seabird in the frigatebird family and breeds across tropical oceans of the Indian and Pacific, with a further breeding presence in the north-western South Atlantic. Outside the breeding season it ranges to waters off south-east Africa, south-west India and Sri Lanka, through the Indonesian Archipelago and the Philippines to Taiwan, as well as around New Guinea, northern Australia and Melanesia. It is the smallest frigatebird. The species was described by Gray, GR, 1845.

Order

Suliformes

Family

Fregatidae — Frigatebirds

Breeding range

Tropical Ocean: widespread, tropical Indian and Pacific ocean is., also nw South Atlantic

Nonbreeding range

to waters off se Africa, sw India and Sri Lanka, throughout Indonesian Arch. and Philippines to Taiwan, New Guinea waters, n Australia and Melanesia