Christmas Island Frigatebird in a tree showing wing-spreading. [0160]![Christmas Island Frigatebird in a tree showing wing-spreading. [0160]](aussiePlaces/christmasisWA/fulls/birds/14-0F3A0160.jpg "Christmas Island Frigatebird in a tree showing wing-spreading. [0160]")
While frigatebirds are masters of the air, they have several unique biological quirks that lead to this specific pose when they are perched in the forest canopy. Frigatebirds use this "horaltic pose" (wings spread wide while perched) to regulate their body temperature. Depending on the time of day, they are either absorbing solar energy to warm up after a cool night or dissipating excess heat through the large surface area of their wings. Unlike most seabirds, frigatebirds have very little waterproofing oil on their feathers. If they get wet—even from heavy tropical rain or sea spray—they must spread their wings to dry them out. [0160]