How do frigatebirds often get food?

By harassing seabirds until they drop it

What did a 2016 study show?

They sleep briefly while flying

Where can nesting colonies be seen?

The Galápagos and other tropical islands

Frigatebird Quiz: Red Throat Pouches and Sleeping on the Wing

This frigatebird quiz looks up at the pirates of tropical skies. Play 10 interactive questions on males inflating red throat pouches like balloons, chasing other seabirds to steal food, feathers that are not waterproof, the largest wing area for body weight, staying aloft for weeks, a 2016 study showing they sleep in flight and nesting colonies on islands like the Galápagos.

Start Frigatebird Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Pouch
What do male frigatebirds inflate to attract mates?
Pirate
What nickname comes from their food stealing?
Steal
How do frigatebirds often get food?
Water
Why do frigatebirds avoid landing on the sea?
Wings
What is special about their wings?
Aloft
How long can frigatebirds stay in the air?
Sleep
What did a 2016 study show?
Clouds
What do they sometimes use to gain height?
Islands
Where can nesting colonies be seen?
Food
What do frigatebirds also catch themselves?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: What do male frigatebirds inflate to attract mates?
Answer: A red throat pouch
It looks like a balloon.
Q2: What nickname comes from their food stealing?
Answer: Man-o'-war birds
They chase other seabirds.
Q3: How do frigatebirds often get food?
Answer: By harassing seabirds until they drop it
This is called kleptoparasitism.
Q4: Why do frigatebirds avoid landing on the sea?
Answer: Their feathers are not waterproof
Wet feathers would weigh them down.
Q5: What is special about their wings?
Answer: Huge wing area for their light bodies
They glide effortlessly.
Q6: How long can frigatebirds stay in the air?
Answer: Weeks or more
They ride rising air.
Q7: What did a 2016 study show?
Answer: They sleep briefly while flying
Sometimes one brain half sleeps.
Q8: What do they sometimes use to gain height?
Answer: Rising air under clouds
Updrafts lift them high.
Q9: Where can nesting colonies be seen?
Answer: The Galápagos and other tropical islands
Males display in groups.
Q10: What do frigatebirds also catch themselves?
Answer: Flying fish near the surface
They snatch without landing.

Pirates With Red Balloons

Frigatebirds are large tropical seabirds. In breeding season, males inflate a bright red throat pouch like a balloon and sit together in groups, calling to females flying overhead. Nesting colonies can be seen in the Galápagos and on other tropical islands.

Their feathers are not waterproof, so they avoid landing on the sea. Instead they snatch flying fish and squid from the surface or chase other seabirds until they drop their catch, earning the nickname man-o'-war birds.

Frigatebirds have a huge wing area for their light bodies and can stay aloft for weeks, riding rising air under clouds. A 2016 study found they sleep in short bursts while flying, sometimes with only one half of the brain asleep.

What This Quiz Teaches

Bird fans will enjoy these questions.

How males display
Why they steal food
Why they avoid water
How long they fly
How they sleep

Did You Know?

Their tails are deeply forked.
Chicks depend on parents for months.
They can soar above 2,000 m.
Females have white breasts.
Their bones are very light.