Frigatebird - New Ireland, Papua New Guinea (1 Viewer)

[thyoloalethe]

I snapped a few shots of this female Frigatebird at Lissenung Island near Kavieng, New Ireland, Papua New Guinea in August 2022. I think it's a female Great, but wanted to get a second opinion to be sure it isn't Lesser.

Thanks
Liam

 

[Andy Adcock]

Belly patch looks to be the right shape for Great from what I remember.

 

[THE_FERN]

Agree: white doesn't really extend on to the wings. Also looks hefty

 

[Andy Adcock]

Agree: white doesn't really extend on to the wings. Also looks hefty

That feature is only applicable in males I believe?

In Lesser, the belly patch has a semi circular bit misssing at the rear.

lesser frigatebird, female - Yahoo Image Search results

uk.images.search.yahoo.com

I spent several months, laid on my back, checking out small groups of Lessers passing over the beach in Bali, looking for Great and, didn't and still haven't seen one.

 

[THE_FERN]

That feature is only applicable in males I believe?

No I don't think so. I've only got an African guide with me but it points up white "armpits" in both sexes for lesser

 

[Andy Adcock]

Agree: white doesn't really extend on to the wings. Also looks hefty

From memory, 25 years ago (!), a lot of female Lessers don't have the bar extending in to the axilla or if they do it's hardly visible. The shape of the belly patch is by far, the easiest thing to see as you'll notice from the Wiki page I attached.

 

[THE_FERN]

From memory, 25 years ago (!), a lot of female Lessers don't have the bar extending in to the axilla or if they do it's hardly visible. The shape of the belly patch is by far, the easiest thing to see as you'll notice from the Wiki page I attached.

Dunno. When I used to see them regularly I do remember seeing the white "arms". But that was >30 years ago. Anyway, since we agree what this is...

 

[thyoloalethe]

Thanks both for your input.