frigate bird

American  

Or frigatebird

noun

1. any of several predacious seabirds of the genus Fregata, having fully webbed feet.

---

frigate bird British  

noun

1. Also called: man-of-war bird.  any bird of the genus Fregata and family Fregatidae , of tropical and subtropical seas, having a long bill with a downturned tip, a wide wingspan, and a forked tail: order Pelecaniformes (pelicans, cormorants, etc)

---

Etymology

Origin of frigate bird

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

Ascension Island has a wealth of species native to the island that have been affected by plastic pollution, such as the land crab, frigate bird and various species of sharks, turtles, fish and seabirds.

From BBC • Nov. 16, 2022

The bodyguard, who wears the uniform of the Kiribati National Police—the shoulder patch depicts a yellow frigate bird flying clear of the rising sun—folds the towels carefully and places them on an armrest.

From BusinessWeek • Nov. 21, 2013

The frigate bird stretches its wings wide to circle and climb on thermals and then, spotting a fish in the ocean below, folds them back and swoops in a sudden plunge.

From Slate • Mar. 5, 2013

As we have gradually become more familiar with the unforgiving terrain sans lights, my fellow graduate student Sebastian Cruz and I are able to quickly find and catch the first frigate bird.

From New York Times • May 18, 2011

A frigate bird, his dark wings as wide as the man was tall, swooped curiously.

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr