Frigatebird

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/frigatebird

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Fregata
2. What is the habitat?Tropical and subtropical oceanic waters worldwide, nesting on islands and coastal areas
3. What makes frigatebirds so fast in the sky?Frigatebirds have a very large wingspan compared to their body, which gives them low wing loading. This lets them soar for long periods and glide easily over the ocean.
4. Why do frigatebirds have a big red throat pouch?Male frigatebirds inflate a red or orange throat pouch during courtship. The size and color help attract females and show how healthy the male is.

Pelagic: Relating to or living in the open sea, far from land.
Kleptoparasitism: A form of foraging where an animal obtains food by stealing it from another animal.
Gular Pouch: A distensible sac on the throat of male frigatebirds, inflated for courtship displays.
Wing Loading: The ratio of an aircraft's or bird's weight to the area of its wings, affecting flight characteristics.