Magnificent Frigatebird
The male frigatebird inflates a brilliant red throat pouch like a balloon to attract a mate, and it can soar for weeks without landing.
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda
Field Report
Antigua and Barbuda is a small island nation tucked in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about halfway between Puerto Rico and the coast of South America. It is made up of two main islands — busy, harbor-filled Antigua and quieter, wilder Barbuda — with a total population of fewer than 100,000 people. Most people there speak English and live within sight of the sea, where warm trade winds blow almost every day of the year.
From the Field Notebook
Magnificent Frigatebird
The male frigatebird inflates a brilliant red throat pouch like a balloon to attract a mate, and it can soar for weeks without landing.
Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Hawksbill sea turtles nest on Antigua's beaches and use their narrow, pointed beaks to pull sponges out of coral reefs.
Antiguan Racer Snake
One of the rarest snakes on earth, the Antiguan racer is a gentle, non-venomous snake found only on a tiny offshore island called Great Bird Island.
Fungee and Pepperpot
Fungee is a firm cornmeal dumpling stirred until smooth, and it is served alongside pepperpot, a rich stew of salted meat and vegetables that is considered the national dish.
Ducana
Ducana is a sweet, dense dumpling made from grated sweet potato and coconut wrapped in a banana leaf and boiled, giving it a faintly smoky, tropical flavor.
Johnnycakes
These golden fried or baked bread rounds are eaten at breakfast or as a snack, with a slightly crisp outside and a soft, pillowy inside.
Antigua is said to have 365 beaches — one for every day of the year — though locals will debate exactly which ones count.
Antigua and Barbuda is one of the smallest countries in the Western Hemisphere, with a total land area smaller than the city of Chicago.
Barbuda, the quieter of the two islands, is mostly flat and low-lying, with much of its central plain only a few feet above sea level — its highest point reaches just 146 feet.
English Harbour in Antigua was once the most important British naval base in the Caribbean, and Admiral Horatio Nelson was stationed there in the 1780s.
The country only became fully independent from Britain in 1981, which means some grandparents alive today were born as British subjects.
Daily Life
78
Years life expectancy
99%
Can read and write
96%
Kids go to school
Missions Field Report
Most Antigua and Barbuda's people follow Christianity (92.9%). Evangelical Christians make up about 25.1% of the population.
What People Believe
Prayer Journal
Tick each one as you pray. God hears every word.