Magnificent Frigatebird Lifting from the Tárcoles River

A white-headed immature Magnificent Frigatebird beats upward from the water with both long wings raised and droplets breaking around its feet at Tárcoles River in Costa Rica. Long angular wings and a deeply forked tail equip the Magnificent Frigatebird for sustained soaring and agile pursuit over tropical coasts. The exposure of 1/2000 sec, f/5.6 and ISO 500 holds the flight posture and major feather groups sharply while leaving restrained motion in the quickest wing tips; the photograph was made in natural light without flash.