Fregata magnificens (Lacépède, 1799; up to 56 cm long) is the extant magnificent frigate bird, here nesting between the shoebill (Balaeniceps) and pelican (Pelicanus). Tested frigate birds stayed aloft for two months without ever touching the ground (Huey and Deutsch 2016) riding cumulus thermals up to 6500 feet above sea level. According to Wikipedia, "frigatebirds spend most of the day in flight hunting for food, and roost on trees or cliffs at night. The duration of parental care is among the longest of any bird species; frigatebirds are only able to breed every other year. Fossils date back to the Eocene, 50 mya." |
