Lesser Frigatebird

The smallest of the frigatebirds, but note that the female is larger than the male. Adults are easier to identify than younger birds. Adult males are almost entirely black with a red throat and white spurs emanating outwards from the body onto the wing. Adult females have a black belly and throat, a white breast and hind collar, with similar white spurs on their sides. Juvenile and immature plumages are variable and are best separated from other frigatebirds by size when comparison is possible. Mostly silent except while breeding in oceanic islands. Strongly pelagic during non-breeding season but wind-blown or fatigued birds can be found from continental coasts.

Habitat and ecology​​ The Lesser Frigatebird breeds on small, remote tropical and sub-tropical islands

In Sri Lanka, the Lesser Frigatebird primarily feeds on small fish, particularly flying fish, and squid which they catch from the ocean surface in flight, often taking advantage of fish driven to the surface by larger predators like tuna; they also engage in kleptoparasitism, stealing food from other seabirds like boobies and terns by harassing them until they regurgitate their catch.