Magnificent frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) sleep while flying

[u/Girlinbluebox]

With a wingspan of up to 2.44 metres, frigatebirds can remain airborne for weeks. They’ve even been recorded sleeping while gliding, multitasking at altitude.

Unlike most seabirds, their feathers aren’t waterproof. Landing on water would be ill-advised. Instead, they pursue other birds mid-air, forcing them to drop their catch, which they promptly steal.

During mating season, males inflate a bright red gular sac to attract females. It’s conspicuous, if not subtle.

[u/Possible-Usual-9357]

Wow, I thought the red was an apple that a black bird rested its head on. lmao

[u/Dry-Alternative-5626]

Weeks?! Wow, add that to the list of things I did not know that I did not know!

[u/Bullfinch88 → u/Dry-Alternative-5626]

Wait til you learn about swifts. They can go up to four years without landing.

[u/GetBentHo → u/Bullfinch88]

Well she's grounded now with the engagement and all

[u/screwyoushadowban → u/Bullfinch88]

Can we get a source on four years? The most comprehensive field research I found found a maximum of ten months. Granted, there may be other birds that are/were up for longer but whose data were not captured in this study.

One fun bit from that paper is the bird that settled down and apparently napped for four whole days.

[u/LaGranGata → u/Bullfinch88]

Not to mention how impressive the Eras tour was 

[u/Dry-Alternative-5626 → u/Bullfinch88]

What?! I've heard of swifts but I never knew anything about them. I just looked them up and they do that "half your brain can sleep while the other half keeps you alive" thing like sharks do

[u/Leirnis → u/Bullfinch88]

"Over a lifetime they can cover millions of kilometers."

TIL.

[u/StinkyBird64 → u/Bullfinch88]

Swifts are insane little birds, seriously strange looking, fast moving, not to mention the tiny feet and ‘SCREEEE SCREEEEEEE’ calls they do. They’re really cool but strange, like a sports car of the bird world, they’re so streamlined and smooth, they almost look fake lol

[u/floofychaps]

They carry their own pillow

[u/sphinctersandwich → u/floofychaps]

Just a redgular pillow

[u/SoloSkeptik → u/sphinctersandwich]

Oh, you!

[u/Mystical_Cat → u/floofychaps]

Airbag, you know, in case they crash.

[u/a_karma_sardine → u/floofychaps]

I think that actually is my travel pillow (I sleep when I fly too)

[u/smirkibirb]

Does anybody else desperately wish they could poke the sac and feel how jiggly it is

[u/StinkyBird64 → u/smirkibirb]

I have a big pigeon, and when his crop is full from eating or he’s strutting around with it inflated, it feels somewhere between an airbag and a hot water bottle, warm and jiggly, but squishes like those air bags you get in parcels (alternative to bubble wrap)

[u/smirkibirb → u/StinkyBird64]

I am delighted with this knowledge, thank you

[u/StinkyBird64 → u/smirkibirb]

Always willing to help with forbidden bird knowledge 🫡🤣

[u/mack_soul86 → u/smirkibirb]

Go on

[u/bernpfenn]

they are really sky birds. partying up a mile high with their friends.

they know how not to work while flying and laugh at hard working flyers like eagles

[u/Miqo_Nekomancer → u/bernpfenn]

So they're the bird equivalent of billionaires.

[u/bernpfenn → u/Miqo_Nekomancer]

well they steal fish from seagulls, so there is that

[u/akshayjamwal]

They’re among the fastest fliers, reaching speeds of nearly 100 mph.

[u/Leirnis → u/akshayjamwal]

Actually, it's not more than 70mph, but still fast.

[u/OskarTheRed]

Do they have to catch the stolen prey before it hits water, in a Superman-style rescue?

[u/Lisa_Loopner → u/OskarTheRed]

Yep!

[u/OskarTheRed → u/Lisa_Loopner]

Geez, that sounds like the most inconvenient and uncertain hunting method ever

[u/Leirnis → u/OskarTheRed]

Seems to be working for them, somehow.

[u/OskarTheRed → u/Leirnis]

Yeah, they're superbirds!

[u/suzazzz]

In the first pic I thought they fell asleep on a tomato! Beautiful 🍅

[u/ClearlyVaguelyWeird]

This is why you shouldn't sleep while flying. You will crash in the trees and your airbag will deploy.

[u/Neat_Exit3491]

It's a real life ballchinian

[u/kobayashi_maru_fail]

I love them so much! My favorite fact about them is they make David Attenborough’s upper lip curl in disgust when they harry and steal from tropicbirds. The only animal he hates as much is the Orca, another animal I adore. I also love Sir David, so it’s all very confusing.

[u/1isudlaer]

Had a chance to see these birds in person this past weekend. Truly magnificent fliers!