Top 3 Chagos Birds
Red-footed Booby
Latin name: Sula sula
Colouration: Adults are mainly white with iconic bright red feet.
Breeding: Adults have no breeding season and can be seen with young throughout the year.
Numbers & Distribution: Can be found across the Archipelago. In May 2005 4,370 breeding pairs were counted.
Diet: Feeds on small fish caught by diving into the ocean from a great height.
Greater Frigatebird
Latin name: Fregata minor
Colouration: Adult males are all black with grey/white colouration on their chin and breast.
Breeding: This species breed continuously throughout the year.
Numbers & Distribution: Over 300+ breeding pairs, the number varies on different islands.
Diet: Mainly fish stolen from other seabirds, chasing them until they regurgitate their stomach contents.
Common White Tern
Latin name: Gygis alba
Colouration: All white, with large dark eyes and a dark grey beak.
Breeding: The breeding population in Chagos is estimated at 610 pairs.
Numbers & Distribution: Majority nest on Diego Garcia, favouring ironwood trees.
Diet: Adults fly offshore to feed on schools of small fish.