---
title: "Lesser Frigatebird"
description: "Fregata ariel — Aves. The lesser frigatebird (Fregata ariel) is a seabird of the frigatebird family Fregatidae."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/pt/animal/lesser-frigatebird
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Lesser Frigatebird

> Fregata ariel — Aves. The lesser frigatebird (Fregata ariel) is a seabird of the frigatebird family Fregatidae.

- Scientific name: *Fregata ariel*
- Category: `birds` (Aves)
- Habitats: `sea` (Mar e costa)
- iNaturalist observations: 1945
- Wikidata: [Q870775](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q870775)
- iNaturalist taxon: [4634](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4634)

## Names

- en: Lesser Frigatebird
- de: Arielfregattvogel
- es: Rabihorcado chico
- fr: Frégate ariel
- nl: Kleine fregatvogel
- pl: Fregata mała

## Countries with the most observations

ID (368), AU (340), PF (117), FJ (89), TW (59), SC (57), MY (43), TH (41), NC (39), US (36), CN (28), MG (27)

## Summary

The lesser frigatebird (Fregata ariel) is a seabird of the frigatebird family Fregatidae. Around 75 cm (30 in) in length, it is the smallest species of frigatebird. It occurs over tropical and subtropical waters across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, as well as off the Atlantic coast of Brazil.
The lesser frigatebird is a lightly built seabird with brownish-black plumage, long, narrow wings, and a deeply forked tail. The male has a striking red gular sac, which he inflates to attract a mate. The female is slightly larger than the male and has a white breast and belly. Frigatebirds feed on fish taken in flight from…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_frigatebird

## Photo

![Lesser Frigatebird](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/lesser-frigatebird/medium.jpg)

Photo: Martyn Drabik-Hamshare · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51502362

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/lesser-frigatebird?lang=pt` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).