26 WATER BIRDS 



128. MAN-O'-WAR BIRD. — Fregata aquila. 

 Family : The Man-o'-War Birds. 



Length: 39.00. 



Adult Male: Uniform iridescent black, with green and reddish purple 

 reflections ; wings very long ; tail forked for more than half its 

 leDgth. 



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 Bird, Frigate Pelican, Man-o'-War Bird, and 

 Hurricane Bird are the common names applied to Fregata 

 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 



