bird
Great frigatebird.
Fregata minor · also: Maahoara (Dhivehi)
A master of the air, the great frigatebird rides ocean winds for days on a 2-metre wingspan and almost never lands on water — its feathers aren't waterproof. Breeding males inflate a brilliant scarlet throat pouch like a balloon to court females. It is also a notorious aerial pirate, harassing other seabirds until they drop their catch.
Size
Wingspan 205–230 cm
Weight
~1.0–1.6 kg.
Diet
Flying fish and squid snatched in flight; also steals food from other seabirds.
Lifespan
Typically ~25–30 years; oldest ~37–40.
Depth
Aerial seabird — feeds at the surface, does not dive.
Reproduction
Very slow — matures at ~8–11 years; raises a single chick, breeding only every other year.
Snorkel or dive
Surface / birdwatching
Best season
Year-round; roosts at Olhugiri
Conservation
Least Concern
How to recognise it
Long angular wings, deeply forked tail; male has an inflatable scarlet throat pouch.
Behaviour
Aerial specialist; snatches flying fish from the surface and steals catches from other seabirds.
Where to see it in the Maldives
Olhugiri (Baa Atoll) is one of the very few known perching/roosting sites in the Maldives.
Conservation
Nesting-habitat disturbance, invasive predators on breeding islands, fisheries interactions.
IUCN · Least Concern
Watch them responsibly
Keep well back from nesting colonies to avoid flushing birds off their nests.
Has the largest wing-area-to-body-weight ratio of any bird and can sleep on the wing.
It can stay aloft for weeks, even sleeping on the wing in brief seconds-long bursts while gliding.
Collective noun: a flotilla of frigatebirds
Want to dive with great frigatebird?
Our Maldives specialists match you to the right atoll, season and resort.
Sightings are typical, not guaranteed — encounters vary with season and conditions.