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What the sources say

Magnificent FrigatebirdFregata magnificens

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Magnificent Frigatebird profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 54 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Audubon Field Guide, National Audubon Society

Magnificent Frigatebird. Audubon Field Guide, National Audubon Society.

The page saysriding wings up to eight feet across
The source sayswingspan: 7 ft 6 in-8 ft (2.3-2.4 m)Note: tagline; top of the female's range
The page saysmugging other birds for their catch
The source saysAlso feeds by piracy, chasing other birds, forcing them to drop or disgorge their food.Note: tagline
The page saysTropical Coasts, Mangrove Islands & Open Ocean
The source saysOceanic coasts and islands. Occurs over warm waters, usually along coast but also far offshore at times. Also soars inland in coastal areas (for example, crosses isthmus of Panama from one ocean to the other). Strays are rarely seen far inland around fresh water. Nests on islands, usually small islands with dense growth of mangrovesNote: stats.habitat
The page saysCarnivore (Fish, Flying Fish, Squid & Pirated Catches)
The source saysAlso feeds by piracy, chasing other birds, forcing them to drop or disgorge their food. Diet The Magnificent Frigatebird feeds mainly on small fish, also squid, jellyfish, crustaceans.Note: stats.diet; flying fish from ADW's 'especially flying fish (Exocoetidae)'
The page sayslives over warm waters, usually along the coast but also far offshore at times
The source saysOccurs over warm waters, usually along coast but also far offshore at times.
The page saysIt hunts from the air instead
The source saysForages in the air, swooping close to water to take items from on or near surface, making very little contact with water. Never swims.
The page saysa wingspan of up to 2.4 meters, about 8 feet
The source sayswingspan: 7 ft 6 in-8 ft (2.3-2.4 m)Note: female range; males reach 2.3 m
The page saysFemales are the bigger sex: they run 1.1 to 1.2 meters long and 1.4 to 1.8 kilograms, while males come in at 1 to 1.1 meters and 1.2 to 1.4 kilograms.
The source saysFemale — Length: 3 ft 9 in-3 ft 10 in (1.1-1.2 m); wingspan: 7 ft 6 in-8 ft (2.3-2.4 m); weight: 3 lb 2 oz-3 lb 14 oz (1.4-1.8 kg). Male — Length: 3 ft 5 in-3 ft 7 in (1-1.1 m); wingspan: 6 ft 10 in-7 ft 6 in (2.1-2.3 m); weight: 2 lb 10 oz-3 lb 2 oz (1.2-1.4 kg).
The page saysit takes food from on or near the surface with very little contact with the water
The source saysswooping close to water to take items from on or near surface, making very little contact with water.
The page saysMostly that means small fish, plus squid, jellyfish and crustaceans
The source saysThe Magnificent Frigatebird feeds mainly on small fish, also squid, jellyfish, crustaceans.
The page saysIt forages over beaches the same way, without landing.
The source saysForages in the same way over land, taking prey from beaches without landing.
The page saysIt takes hatchling turtles, young terns and sometimes eggs, and scavenges scraps around fishing boats and docks.
The source saysTakes hatchling turtles, young terns and other birds, sometimes eggs. Also scavenges for scraps around fishing boats, docks.
The page saysEach female chooses one male
The source saysFemales flying overhead are attracted to group, choose one male as mate.
The page saysshe usually lays just one egg
The source saysA Magnificent Frigatebird usually only lays one egg.
The page saysThe male leaves after about 12 weeks.
The source saysMale departs after about 12 weeks, female continues to feed young.Note: Audubon's current page over ADW's 'eleventh week'
The page saysThe female keeps feeding the chick through its first flight at 20 to 24 weeks and for 16 weeks or more after that
The source saysfemale continues to feed young. Age at first flight 20-24 weeks; female will feed young for additional 16 weeks or more.
The page saysNesting colonies are scattered across islands and coasts of tropical America
The source saysNesting colonies are widely dispersed among islands and coasts of tropical America (and very locally off west Africa)
The page saysand very locally off west Africa
The source says(and very locally off west Africa)
The page saysA frigatebird nest is never left unguarded until the chick is half-grown, because other members of the colony will eat eggs or young at an unattended nest.
The source saysNest is never left unguarded until young are half-grown, as other members of colony will eat eggs or young at an unattended nest.Note: blockquote
The page saysNever leave the nest empty
The source saysNest is never left unguarded until young are half-grownNote: blockquote lead; the sentence after it carries the until-half-grown qualifier
The page saysweightKg: 1.4
The source saysweight: 3 lb 2 oz-3 lb 14 oz (1.4-1.8 kg). Male — Length: 3 ft 5 in-3 ft 7 in (1-1.1 m); wingspan: 6 ft 10 in-7 ft 6 in (2.1-2.3 m); weight: 2 lb 10 oz-3 lb 2 oz (1.2-1.4 kg).Note: task #770: 1.4 kg sits in both sexes' ranges
The page saysa pirate on 2.4-meter wings
The source sayswingspan: 7 ft 6 in-8 ft (2.3-2.4 m)Note: vibe.reason, task #770

Source
02

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Fregata magnificens (magnificent frigatebird). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysa frigatebird glides just above the water and skims the surface with its bill
The source saysthese birds gracefully glide just above the surface of the water and skim the surface with their beak to catch fish.Note: 'long hooked bill' is Audubon's description
The page saysTo keep its feathers dry, it can dip only about 15 centimeters, around 6 inches, below the surface
The source saysthey are only able to dip about 15 cm deep to avoid getting their feathers wet.Note: 15 cm is 5.9 in, hedged as 'around 6 inches'
The page saysflying fish feel the pressure most
The source saysMagnificent frigatebird feeding habits affect their fish prey, especially flying fishNote: 'especially' restated as 'most'
The page saysIts old nickname, man-o'-war bird, comes from piracy.
The source saysKleptoparasitism, the stealing of another animal's food, is how this species gets one of their nicknames, "Man-'o-War"Note: BOW: 'a reputation of being pirates—reflected in their colloquial name 'Man-o'-War Bird''
The page saysA frigatebird chases gulls, terns, boobies and gannets until the victim coughs up its food, then catches the falling meal in midair.
The source saysThey chase other birds, particularly gulls, gannets, terns, and boobies. This chase continues until the victim is forced to disgorge their food. Magnificent frigatebirds then catch the disgorged food in mid air.
The page saysSometimes it grabs the other bird by the tail feathers and shakes it until it drops its food.
The source saysThey may also catch the other bird by the tail feathers and shake it until they release their food.
The page saysmales display in groups, each inflating a red throat pouch, called a gular sac, that can get so large it hides the bird's head
The source saysmale magnificent frigatebirds congregate at male display sites. They inflate their large, red, gular sacs. These sacs, while inflated, can get so large that they obscure the bird's head.
The page saysmake a loud drumming noise
The source saysthey also make a loud, drumming noise during this display.
The page saysfrom Florida and Mexico to Brazil
The source saysThey breed as far north as 25 degrees north latitude in Mexico and Florida and as far south 27 degrees south latitude in Brazil.Note: Audubon confirms Florida breeding since the late 1960s (Marquesas Keys) and at the Dry Tortugas since 1988
The page saysKleptoparasitism, stealing another animal's food, is one of its three main hunting techniques, alongside dipping and opportunistic feeding.
The source saysThe three main hunting techniques are dipping, kleptoparasitism, and opportunistic feeding. ... Kleptoparasitism, the stealing of another animal's foodNote: FAQ 2
The page saysNow and then it even steals food from the hands of humans.
The source saysOccasionally they steal food from the hands of humans.Note: FAQ 2
The page saysFrigatebirds are often found near groups of dolphins, tuna or other predatory fish that drive prey up to the surface, which makes their dipping more successful.
The source saysMagnificent frigatebirds are often found near groups of dolphins, tuna, or other predatory fish that drive much of their prey to the surface of the water. This makes magnificent frigatebirds more successful when using a dipping hunting technique.Note: FAQ 3
The page saysit can dip only about 15 centimeters, around 6 inches, without getting its feathers wet
The source saysthey are only able to dip about 15 cm deep to avoid getting their feathers wet.Note: FAQ 3; 15 cm is 5.9 in
The page saysdangerLevel: Low
The source saysThey are otherwise docile and while on land will often allow humans to come very close and even touch them.Note: task #770: tier as capability
The page sayschases other seabirds until they cough up their catch
The source saysThis chase continues until the victim is forced to disgorge their food.Note: vibe.reason, task #770

Source
03

Diamond & Schreiber 2020

Diamond & Schreiber (2020). Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens). Birds of the World.

The page saysA seabird whose feathers aren't waterproof
The source saysThis species lacks waterproof plumageNote: tagline
The page saysNon-Waterproof Flight and Mid-Air Food Piracy
The source saysthe frigatebird darts down, catching the food before it hits the ocean. ... This species lacks waterproof plumageNote: stats.superpower
The page saysThe Seabird That Never Gets Wet
The source sayssnatching fish or squid from near the ocean surface, never wetting a feather.Note: heading
The page saysIts feathers are not waterproof, and it is rarely, if ever, seen sitting on the water.
The source saysThis species lacks waterproof plumage and is rarely, if ever, seen to sit on the water.
The page saysfemales are 11 to 23 percent heavier than males
The source saysfemales being larger and 11-23% heavier than malesNote: BOW cites Osorno 1996 for the figure
The page saysIt looks like a full-time pirate, but frigatebirds catch most of their food on their own.
The source saysWhile frigatebirds have a reputation of being pirates ... they catch most of their food on their own
The page saysThey clatter their bills, wave their heads back and forth, quiver their wings and make a loud drumming noise, calling to females flying overhead.
The source saysmales sit in varying size groups, sacs all inflated, clattering their bills, waving their heads back and forth, quivering their wings, and calling to females flying overhead.
The page saysyoung birds are often still being fed by the female at one year of age
The source saysyoung fledglings are often still being fed by the female at one year of age.
The page saysLeaving early lets males breed every year, while females breed only in alternate years.
The source saysmales abandon their mate and half-grown chick and leave the colony ... This allows males to breed annually while females breed only in alternate years
The page saysIn no other seabird are the sexes thought to breed on cycles of different lengths.
The source saysin no other seabird of any species are the sexes thought to breed on cycles of different lengths.
The page saysFrigatebirds have short legs and small feet and never walk or swim, and this species lacks waterproof plumage.
The source saysThis species lacks waterproof plumage and is rarely, if ever, seen to sit on the water. While adept in the air, frigatebirds have short legs and small feet, and never walk or swim.Note: FAQ 1
The page saysIt is rarely, if ever, seen sitting on the water.
The source saysis rarely, if ever, seen to sit on the water.Note: FAQ 1
The page saysInstead it snatches fish or squid from near the surface in flight, never wetting a feather.
The source saysthey catch most of their food on their own, by snatching fish or squid from near the ocean surface, never wetting a feather.Note: FAQ 1

Source
04

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

AnAge entry for Fregata magnificens. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysThe oldest one on record lived to about 34 years old
The source saysMaximum longevity 34 years
The page saysThe longevity record stands at 34 years.
The source saysMaximum longevity 34 yearsNote: FAQ 4
The page sayssexual maturity may come earlier, but they are usually 5 years old when they first breed
The source saysWhile sexual maturity may be attained earlier, animals are usually 5 years old when they first breedNote: FAQ 4

Source
05

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020

Fregata magnificens. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T22697724A168982712.

The page saysthe IUCN lists the species as Least Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: 2020 assessment, read through GBIF's copy

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.