Great Frigatebird Feathers
The two frigatebird species on the Galapagos have similar plumage. One way to separate them is by the sheen on their feathers. The feathers of the Magnificent Frigatebird have a purple sheen, while the feathers of the Great Frigatebird have a green sheen, like these on a bird on Genovesa. Anyone who has tried to identify Lesser and Greater Scaup ducks in North America, who have a similar difference in head color, knows that such differences are extremely difficult to see in the field unless you view a bird in nearly perfect light, so other fieldmarks are needed for identification. Most male frigatebirds look all black when they fly.
Great Frigatebird Feathers
The two frigatebird species on the Galapagos have similar plumage. One way to separate them is by the sheen on their feathers. The feathers of the Magnificent Frigatebird have a purple sheen, while the feathers of the Great Frigatebird have a green sheen, like these on a bird on Genovesa. Anyone who has tried to identify Lesser and Greater Scaup ducks in North America, who have a similar difference in head color, knows that such differences are extremely difficult to see in the field unless you view a bird in nearly perfect light, so other fieldmarks are needed for identification. Most male frigatebirds look all black when they fly.