Today we will talk in about one bird in Rio-de-Janeiro considered as one of the city´s favorite icon: the frigate bird or man-o'-war bird. Since the discovery of Rio-de-Janeiro, the frigate birds of Rio de Janeiro, here called as “Gaivotas”, have been drawing attention by naturalists, biologist, adventurous, and nature lovers in general. Please read below a scientific excerpt of the Frigate Bird from Columbia Encyclopedia.

Man-o'-war bird or frigate birds most aerial of the water birds, found in the tropic seas. The man-o'-war bird's wingspread (7 1/2 ft/228.5 cm) is the largest in proportion to its body (3-4 lb/1.4-1.8 kg) of any bird. It can soar motionless by the hour and has been recorded in flights lasting nearly four days, spending most of that time several hundred feet or more in the air. It is awkward on land and in the sea, where the feathers quickly become water-logged. Here in Brazil, the frigate birds of Rio de Janeiro are translated into Portuguese as “Gaivotas” and inspired several composers and Brazilian Poets.



Above, great photo of a man-o-war bird taken in Rio by Netmark from Flickr.

These frigate birds of Rio de Janeiro can be seen regularly at most beaches like Ipanema, Leblon, Flamengo, Copacabana and Urca to the amusement of locals and tourists. Its name derives from its grace and swiftness in the air and from its piratical tendencies; it harasses boobies, pelicans, cormorants, and gulls until they drop their catch. Man-o'-war birds feed chiefly on fish but also prey on the young of sea birds and on jellyfish, squid, and young turtles. They have long hooked beaks and forked tails; the male has an inflatable orange throat pouch that becomes red at courtship. Amongst Brazilians and ,native Cariocas and surfers, the frigate birds of Rio de Janeiro are also a symbol for liberty and freedom.

Please see below this fantastic photo of a Gaviota taken in Rio by Rafael Sieber from Flickr.



The purplish black magnificent frigate-bird, Fregata magnificens, 40 in. (100 cm) long, is found from the Bahamas and Baja California S to Brazil and Ecuador; the great frigate-bird, F. minor, is found in the Indian Ocean. Other species, e.g., the Ascension and Christmas Island frigate-birds, are named for their habitats. The lesser frigate-bird, the smallest (32 in./80 cm) of the family, is found in the South Pacific and on the islands off Brazil and Madagascar.



Above, a picture of a flock of Frigate Birds taken by CSERFATY within Rio-de-Janeiro State. This photo shows us the gaivotas can also fly in a large group!

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press.