The Magnificent FrigateFregata magnificens bird presents a great presence in the skies over and near the sea. The male has a prominent red gullet sac on his neck and upper breast. During mating season this can be blown up to prodigious proportions. While that was not the case in these pictures, the empty red sac is nonetheless impressive in all the pictures except the last showing a female. All but the 4000 series photos were taken in the Galapagos. The 4000 series photos were taken in the Caribbean. The V of the feathers of the tail is characteristic. One of the birds flying around the ship was banded and the band could be read 23V (4041).
The series 2000 photos of a juvenile Magnificant Fragatebird were taken on Fakarava Island in French Polynesia.