Bird Spotlight!: Magnificent Frigatebird ("man-o-war bird")
These guys are like BIRD PIRATES?!!! ?!??! Basically, they'll grab and hold onto a smaller bird until it regurgitates the fish it caught. Once it does, the frigatebird releases it, and catches the fish midair as it falls!! Video of this in action below! (if you just want to see the moment of the fish falling, skip to 2:15!) (young frigatebirds will practice this with each other with sticks!! so cute omgggg) (this is not the only way they gather food, but it is by far the most interesting way X3)
Another cool fact, the frigatebird is a seabird, but it can't swim. It's feathers aren't waterproof. BUT SOMEHOW, these birds stay out at sea for up to 2 months... how??????
well!! scientists have long theorized that birds can sleep during flight,, and a study with the frigatebird (from less than a decade ago!!!) is actually what proved this theory!!!! These birds slept for 10 second intervals while flying (for a total of about 45 minutes a day). it’s VERY little sleep (they get 12ish hours on land)
Finally, they're one of the very few sea birds that have major male/female differences (notice the big red thing,, that's the male). They can inflate this,, its part of the mating process (but also can be used to regulate body temp,, kinda cool)
