Male unique, all black, glossed blue-purple-green, with axilary spurs, female has white upper breast and axillary spurs. Complex series of immature plumages, with progressively decreasing amount of russet on head and white on underbody.
Not Threatened.
Male unique, all black, glossed blue-purple-green, with axilary spurs, female has white upper breast and axillary spurs. Complex series of immature plumages, with progressively decreasing amount of russet on head and white on underbody.
81 cm, male 625-875 g, female 760-955 g, wingspan 175-193 cm.
Taxonomy:
- Atagen ariel G.R.Gray (ex Gould MS), 1845, Raine Island, Queensland. Three subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * iredalei Mathews, 1914 - W Indian Ocean. * ariel (G.R.Gray, 1845) - C & E Indian, W & C Pacific Oceans. * trinitatis Miranda Ribeiro, 1919 - S Atlantic.
Tropical and subtropical seas, breading on small, remote islands,
Mostly fish, especially flying, kleptoparasitism used mostly.
Throughout much of year at different localities. Sedentary. NoT.