Possible Christmas Island Frigatebird currently in Zanzibar, Tanzania

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Hi David,

Thank you for your reply!  I have come to the conclusion that Frigatebird
identification is very challenging!  After analyzing 100's of photographs
of this bird (which is still here), the white patch on the chest looks
very different from various angles.  Some have suggested it is Christmas
Island Frigatebird while others say it is looking more like a Lesser
Frigatebird, but after reading your comments I found posted online, I am
wondering if it is immature Greater? In some photos, the front margin
looks straight, while in others it looks pinched and more diamond shape on
front and back margins (without the spurs).  I also noticed in a few
pictures with the light straight on, there is a bit of brownish/reddish
colour on the throat area.  The bill does look quite long from some
angles.  Attaching a few more photos to show the coloration as well as
other views of chest. I am so curious as to what it is doing here and how
long it will stay.  Amazing to watch it fishing on the shallow reefs!

Thank you for your assistance if you have time to look at the photos and
help me identify this one!  :-)
Kind regards,
Tammy















> Hi Tammy, thanks for your email. I'm just on the road at present but I'll
> have a close look at your frigatebird photos shortly and get back to you
> with my thoughts.
> Cheers
> David James
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On 24 Jan 2017, at 16:09,  wrote:
>>
>> Dear David and Birding-Aus,
>>
>> For the past 4 days, this Frigatebird (photos attached) has been flying
>> over our beach in Kendwa, Zanzibar, Tanzania (Northwest coast of
>> Zanzibar
>> Island).  Photos taken of moving bird from moving boat, so not great.  I
>> am a beginner birder, however local experts in our Birding Tanzania
>> group
>> together with other posts I have followed with your comments on
>> Frigatebird identification lead us to believe it may be a Christmas
>> Island
>> Frigatebird?  Local experts say there may have been one previous
>> sighting
>> in our region, but no photos.
>>
>> Could you confirm if this is the Christmas Island Frigatebird?  If so,
>> is
>> it normal to be found this far away from Christmas Island (more than
>> 7,300
>> kilometers)?  If it is here again today, I will try to get better photos
>> from land.
>>
>> Thank you kindly for your assistance.
>>
>> Warm regards,
>> Tammy
>>
>> _______________________
>> Tammy Holter
>> PADI Instructor #633748
>> Scuba Do Zanzibar
>> +255 773 888 291
>> 
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>
>

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