26 | WATER BIRDS 
128. MAN-O’-WAR BIRD. — Fregata aquila. 
Famity: The Man-o-War Birds. 
Lergth: 39.00. 
Adult Male: Uniform iridescent black, with green and reddish purple 
reflections ; wings very long; tail forked for more than half its 
length. 
Adult Female: Upper parts rusty black ; under parts white ; wings with 
gray patch. 
Young: Head, neck, and under parts white; rest of plumage dull 
blackish. 
Downy Young: Uniform white. 
Geographical Distribution: Tropical and subtropical coasts generally ; 
in America north to Florida and Texas, casually through interior 
along Mississippi River and along Pacific coast to Humboldt Bay, 
California. 
Breeding Range: Gulf of Mexico and islands off coast of Lower Cali- 
fornia, 
Breeding Season: January to March. 
Nest: A slight platform of twigs upon the branches of the mangrove 
trees at edge of lagoon. 
Eggs: 1; dull white, unspotted. Size 2.70 X 1.84. 
FRIGATE Brrp, Frigate Pelican, Man-o’-War Bird, and 
Hurricane Bird are the common names applied to Pregata 
aquila by sailors and fishermen. It is regarded by sea- 
men as a weather prophet, always flying higher in clear 
weather and low before a storm. The name “ Man-o’- 
War Bird” doubtless obtains from its resemblance to a 
black ship as it hangs motionless in midair. Mr. Chap- 
man writes of these birds: “They have a greater expanse 
of wing in proportion to the weight of their body than any 
other bird. They rarely alight on the water, but, facing 
the wind, pass hours resting motionless on outstretched 
wings, sometimes ascending to great heights and calmly 
soaring far above storms. It is when feeding that their 
