Frigatebirds have the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird — their wings can stretch over two metres tip to tip, yet the bird itself weighs less than two bags of sugar. This means they can soar for hours without flapping, riding warm air currents high above the sea.
The Codrington Lagoon on Barbuda is where thousands of frigatebirds nest each year. The lagoon is shallow and calm, sheltered from the ocean by a strip of land, and the mangrove trees growing in it are perfect for building nests. Visitors can take a small boat trip across the lagoon and see the birds nesting at close range — it feels like entering another world.
Male frigatebirds inflate their red throat pouches during the breeding season to attract a mate. The pouch puffs up to the size of a football and turns a brilliant scarlet. Each male sits in a tree and vibrates his wings while the pouch is inflated, making a drumming sound that can be heard across the lagoon.
Despite being seabirds, frigatebirds cannot land on water — their feathers are not waterproof. Instead they steal fish from other birds mid-air, or scoop fish near the surface with their hooked beak without actually landing. Their Latin name — Fregata magnificens — means 'magnificent frigate', named after the fast sailing ships of old.