This presumed Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens was photographed at the western tip of Key West, Florida on May 11,2006. The bird lacks any sign of a red gular pouch - something that develops fairly early in immature male frigatebirds, and would be apparent in these photos on a bird with this much dark on the head and underparts... but if it is a female why are the underparts so dark, and why do the upper wings lack a pale ulnar bar? Also, why does this bird have an obvious pale chin/upper throat - something that does not seem right for any plumage of any frigatebird taxa - ? In the field this individual appeared slightly smaller than all the more-typical Magnificent Frigatebirds in the vicinity:
in the two following images the bird is on the right:
