The legendary bird is as stable as an old bird? Even a hurricane can't disrupt the flight path of this bird

□ Chen Xiaodong

It is the breeding season for South American frigatebirds. South American frigatebirds (also known as South American frigatebirds) are a species of bird that lives in South America. They are a species of Pelecaniformes and belong to the family Mandarin ducks. Their body color is mainly gray-black, with metallic green feathers on their heads and necks, and they have long tails. They mainly live on islands, beaches and rocky coasts along the coast of South America. They mainly feed on fish and are good at diving and hunting. They can swim quickly in the water and catch fish.

Usually, the South American Frigatebirds form large groups and bask in the sun on the rocks by the sea. They use their wings to beat the seawater to remove the salt from the surface of their bodies. Due to their wide wings and unique flying style, the South American Frigatebirds can fly for a long time at sea, even in hurricanes. Therefore, people compare them to warships and call them "Frigatebirds".

The South American frigatebird is known for its unique hunting strategy and predation ability, with the following characteristics:

One is the ability to hover in the air to hunt. They can hover in the air in a very stable posture, so as to better observe the prey on the water surface and accurately lock the target and dive quickly.

The second is that they have a long and sharp beak, which is a powerful weapon for them to hunt, and can quickly grab and pierce prey, especially suitable for catching fast-swimming fish.

Third, it has long and narrow wings that can flexibly turn in the air. This special predation adaptation ability makes the South American frigate bird play an important role in the marine food chain.

The breeding habits of the South American Frigatebird are unique. The male bird has significant sexual dimorphism, with black feathers, a red throat pouch, and long tail feathers. The female bird is relatively small and dark brown. During the breeding season, the male bird attracts the female bird by displaying its beautiful feathers and enlarged throat pouch.

The South American Frigatebird forms a solitary breeding group during the breeding season. It likes to build nests on trees or rocks. The breeding grounds are usually uninhabited islands or cliffs. The female bird usually lays 1-2 eggs each time. The incubation period of the eggs is 40-50 days, and the female and male birds incubate them together to ensure the survival and growth of the chicks. After the incubation is complete, the chicks will live in the nest for a while until they are able to fly away and live independently. After that, they will gradually integrate into the ecosystem of the coastal areas of South America.

(The author is a member of the China Science Writers Association and the China Photographers Association)