Re: Lesser Frigatebird, Whangapoua, Coromandel
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2024 8:23 am
Thanks for asking the question, Steve. They are notoriously tricky at this stage so I asked David James about the bird currently being seen at Gt Mercury Island via Facebook and he has now replied to say why he thinks it is a Lesser Frigatebird:
"Lesser Frigatebird, first cycle. 1st and 2nd cycle frigatebirds are a little variable and very difficult. Greats in juvenile plumage can have spurs in 1st cycle, but they are only ever short and originate from the middle sides of an oval white belly patch. This bird definitely does not have an oval belly patch, It is vaguely triangular. The spurs originate near the front of the belly patch. Blocking out the spurs in the attached images shows a belly patch not oval at all (not perfectly triangular). The breast band has started moulting out so the front edge of the belly patch is no longer straight. A black neck ring seems to be developing, which is diagnostic of Lesser."
"Lesser Frigatebird, first cycle. 1st and 2nd cycle frigatebirds are a little variable and very difficult. Greats in juvenile plumage can have spurs in 1st cycle, but they are only ever short and originate from the middle sides of an oval white belly patch. This bird definitely does not have an oval belly patch, It is vaguely triangular. The spurs originate near the front of the belly patch. Blocking out the spurs in the attached images shows a belly patch not oval at all (not perfectly triangular). The breast band has started moulting out so the front edge of the belly patch is no longer straight. A black neck ring seems to be developing, which is diagnostic of Lesser."