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Wildlife bingoWhereTours Updated Nov 6, 2026

Where to see frigatebirds in the Galápagos

Black pirates of the sky with a red throat pouch. North Seymour has the largest magnificent frigatebird colony in the islands.

  • commonodds of seeing one
  • All yearbest months
  • 2places to see it
  • Least ConcernIUCN status
Male frigatebird with its red throat pouch inflated
Photo: Julian Hammer, CC BY-SA 3.0

Short answer: Walk from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to Cerro Tijeretas (Frigatebird Hill) on San Cristóbal, where magnificent and great frigatebirds nest together, or take a North Seymour day tour from Santa Cruz to the largest magnificent frigatebird colony in the Galápagos. They soar over the harbours in every month, so you will see them on any trip. Courtship, with the red pouch on show, gathers around February, but the timing varies.

Magnificent frigatebirds live across the tropical Americas, and the Galápagos birds are genetically distinct. They are listed as Least Concern. Cerro Tijeretas counted 53,045 visits in 2025.

When to see frigatebirds

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Best months: All year. Odds of seeing one: common.

  • Feb, JunFrigatebird courtship: magnificent (Feb), great (June, Genovesa)

Where to see frigatebirds

Land-based

Cerro Tijeretas / Frigatebird Hill (magnificent and great nest together)

Land-based walk from town.

San Cristóbal · San Cristóbal island guide

Day trip

North Seymour (largest magnificent colony in Galápagos)

Day tour from Santa Cruz.

North Seymour · from Santa Cruz

EQUATOR · 0° Volcán Wolf≈ 1,670 mVolcán Wolf: highest point about 1,670 m in the GMRT elevation gridCerro Azul≈ 1,650 mCerro Azul: highest point about 1,650 m in the GMRT elevation gridSierra Negra≈ 1,110 mSierra Negra: highest point about 1,110 m in the GMRT elevation gridAlcedo≈ 1,130 mAlcedo: highest point about 1,130 m in the GMRT elevation gridVolcán Darwin≈ 1,370 mVolcán Darwin: highest point about 1,370 m in the GMRT elevation gridLa Cumbre≈ 1,440 mLa Cumbre (Fernandina): highest point about 1,440 m in the GMRT elevation gridSanta Cruz highlands≈ 820 mSanta Cruz highlands: highest point about 820 m in the GMRT elevation gridSan Cristóbal highlands≈ 680 mSan Cristóbal highlands: highest point about 680 m in the GMRT elevation gridSantiago≈ 890 mSantiago: highest point about 890 m in the GMRT elevation gridPinta≈ 610 mPinta: highest point about 610 m in the GMRT elevation grid ISABELAFERNANDINASANTIAGOSANTA CRUZSAN CRISTÓBALFLOREANAESPAÑOLAPINTAMARCHENAGENOVESASANTA FEPINZÓNBALTRA North SeymourBartoloméSanta FeSouth PlazaPinzónKicker RockLos TúnelesTintorerasTortuga BaySierra NegraPunta SuárezEl ChatoLas GrietasDarwin Station Puerto AyoraPuerto Baquerizo MorenoPuerto VillamilPuerto Velasco Ibarra ✈GPSBaltra (GPS)✈SCYSan Cristóbal (SCY)✈IBBIsabela (IBB) Giant tortoisesPenguinsPenguinsBlue-footed boobiesFlamingosFlamingosSea lions in townMarine iguanasFlightless cormorantsWaved albatross (Apr–Dec)Red-footed boobiesTurtles & sharks (snorkel)White-tip sharks ↖ Darwin & Wolf: dive boats only 050 km N
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · tiles OpenFreeMap · depth GMRT · photos Wikimedia Commons, credited in each cardNot for navigation.

Which tour goes there

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Prices and ratings as listed in November 2026; the price at checkout is what counts. Many multi-day packages start in Quito, so check what is included. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure

Every tour on all islands, filtered by animal: day-tour finder.

Did you know?

  • Fun factIt is a kleptoparasite: it pecks other seabirds until they drop their catch, then snatches the food in mid-air before it hits the water.
  • Size89 to 114 cm long with a wingspan of 2.17 to 2.44 m, yet only 1.1 to 1.59 kg.
  • Scientific nameFregata magnificens

On every visit: keep 2 metres from wildlife, cameras included, and visit park sites with a certified naturalist guide. The full list: visitor rules.

Questions people ask

Where can you see frigatebirds in the Galápagos?

Cerro Tijeretas, a short walk from town on San Cristóbal, and North Seymour, a day tour from Santa Cruz, where the largest magnificent frigatebird colony in the islands nests beside the trail.

When do frigatebirds show the red pouch?

The red pouch is a courtship display. Magnificent frigatebirds gather for courtship around February, but the timing varies, so a pouch in a given month is not a promise.

How big is a frigatebird?

89 to 114 cm long with a wingspan of 2.17 to 2.44 m, yet it weighs only 1.1 to 1.59 kg.

Also on the card

Print the wildlife bingo card · Best month for your trip · Plan your days

Sources:Galápagos National Park and Governing Council, Galápagos Conservancy, Charles Darwin Foundation, Galápagos Conservation Trust. More numbers:facts and figures.

Updated 2026-11-06. Fees, boat times and prices change, so confirm with the operator before you travel.