Environmental drivers of sex-biased foraging behavior in Magnificent Frigatebird in Baja California Sur, Mexico

Male Magnificent Frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) breeding in Baja California Sur, Mexico, exhibit sex-biased foraging behavior by traveling farther and to more distant areas compared to females, despite both sexes targeting equally productive zones. This differential use of foraging grounds may reflect differences in parental investment, intraspecific competition, and sex-specific behavioral traits. Researchers tracked birds using GPS receivers from 2017–2019, identifying core foraging areas near the Espíritu Santo archipelago (Gulf of California) and Santa Margarita Island (Pacific Ocean), while males also foraged extensively south and north of the Baja California peninsula. These findings highlight frigatebirds as indicators of marine productivity, offering insights to expand marine protected areas by delineating critical foraging ranges. The study underscores the importance of sex-based behavioral differences in shaping foraging strategies during breeding seasons.

Giambalvo, G., Albores-Barajas, Y. V., Soldatini, C., Rosas Hernandez, M. P., & Rattenborg, N. C. (2022). Environmental drivers of sex-biased foraging behavior in Magnificent Frigatebird in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Avian Conservation and Ecology, 17(2). https://doi.org/10.5751/ace-02202-170225