Midwest Mary

Have you ever wanted to soar through the air, to gently fly over the earth while taking in the views from above? I have, and recently, I imagined myself doing just that along with a group of large birds I saw in Cancun, Mexico.

These magical birds captivated my attention while gliding over the ocean, and I longed to be with them. Their continuous soaring was mesmerizing. They rarely even flapped their wings or touched the water.

I learned that they were Magnificent frigates. They have forked tails and long, hooked bills.

Frigates are mostly black. Breeding males have a bright red throat patch. Females and the young have some white on their heads, chest, and bill.

These winged creatures capture some of their food from the surface of the water. However, most of their diet is stolen from the bills of other birds or by scaring them into regurgitating swallowed food. They also rob from nests. These habits are taught to their young through the practice of stealing sticks from one another.

Magnificent frigates are pirates by necessity because they cannot dive for their fish. Their feathers are not sufficiently insulated, and if they do get wet, the birds are unable to fly.

Frigates do not have predators in the sky but do remain partially awake while sleeping to avoid colliding with other birds. Nor do they mate for life. However, their mating and incubation period lasts nearly 60 days.

Several cultures revere these intriguing creatures, associating them with power, freedom, resilience, and the ability to soar above challenges. Some also connect them to the spiritual realm.

For more information, see Cornell Lab’s website, where much of this information was sourced.

©Mary K. Doyle, 2025

*Tranquility Transformation Transcendence. The Enchanting Promises of Public Gardens

*Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku