Birds of India - The New Synopsis

A complete checklist of bird species and subspecies found in India

Suliformes (Cormorants, Boobies, Frigatebirds, and Darters)

Fregatidae (Frigatebirds)

• Fregata de Lacépède, 1799 Discours de l'ouverture et de clôture du cours d'histoire naturelle donné dans le Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, l'an VII de la République, et tableaux méthodiques des mammifères et des oiseaux p.15 Pelecanus aquilus Linnaeus, 1758; Type by subsequent designation (Daudin, 1802, Histoire Naturelle par Buffon, Quadrupèdes, (18mo Didot ed.) Quadr., 14, p.3)
  • 347. Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel (Gray, 1845)
    Alternative Names: Least Frigatebird
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 347a. Fregata ariel iredalei Mathews, 1914 [HB#32]
      Original Description: Fregata ariel iredalei Mathews, 1914 The Austral Avian Record; a scientific journal devoted primarily to the study of the Australian avifauna 2 no.6 p.121
      Distribution: Monsoon stragglers – mostly W coast, Lakshadweep, and rarely in E coast as well as inland.
      Specimens: BNHS
    • [Fregata ariel ariel (Gray, 1845) ]
      Original Description: Atagen Ariel Gray, 1845 The genera of birds: comprising their generic characters, a notice of the habits of each genus, and an extensive list of species referred to their several genera pt.9, 3 p.669 pl.185
      Distribution: Andaman Sea.
      Notes: Andaman records may relate to this subspecies that breed southeast of the region.
  
  
  • 348. Christmas Island Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi Mathews, 1914 [HB#30]
    Original Description: Fregata andrewsi Mathews, 1914 The Austral Avian Record; a scientific journal devoted primarily to the study of the Australian avifauna 2 p.120
    Alternative Names: Christmas Frigatebird
    Distribution: Monsoon straggler. Reported from the coastal regions of West Bengal, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
    IUCN: Vulnerable. WLPA: Schedule-I. CITES: Appendix I. CMS: Appendix I.
    Notes: See Karuthedathu et al. (2014, IB 10 (5): 115), Balasubramanian (2016, IB 12 (4&5): 148A), Vishnudattan & Meppayur (2019, Malabar Trogon 16 (3): 63), James et al. (2025, IB (4): 97) .
  
  
  • 349. Great Frigatebird Fregata minor (Gmelin, 1789)
    Original Description: Pelecanus minor Gmelin, 1789 Systema Naturae. Editio decima tertia, aucta, reformata. Cura Jo. Frid. Gmelin (etc.). Tomus I. Pars II 1 pt2 p.572
    Alternative Names: Lesser Frigatebird (vide HBK)
    IUCN: Least Concern. WLPA: Schedule-II.
    • 349a. Fregata minor aldabrensis Mathews, 1914 [HB#31]
      Original Description: Fregata minor aldabrensis Mathews, 1914 The Austral Avian Record; a scientific journal devoted primarily to the study of the Australian avifauna 2 no.6 p.119
      Distribution: Monsoon stragglers – mostly in the SW coast, rarely in the E coast as well as inland. Also, reported from Lakshadweep and Andaman Is.
      Specimens: BNHS, KAUNHM,ZSIAN
      Notes: Reports from Andamans (ZSI/ANRC/T/3296) treated here as this subspecies based on its longer bill (see Rajeshkumar & Raghunathan 2014, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 134 (4): 305).