At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Birds
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- FaunaHub record reviewed
- Checked against IUCN
- Sources disagree — IUCN's 2022 global assessment says VulnerableChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28 · assessment
Conservation overview
The Christmas frigatebird is a large seabird that breeds only on Christmas Island. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
Males inflate a bright red throat pouch in courtship, like other frigatebirds.
Range & habitat
Breeds only on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- A tiny breeding range
- Past habitat disturbance
- Pollution and introduced species
Why it matters
A seabird that nests on a single small island, the Christmas frigatebird is a flagship for island and ocean conservation in the Indian Ocean.
Sources
Sources for Christmas Frigatebird
- IUCN Red List — look up Christmas Frigatebird (authoritative status)
- BirdLife International
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Christmas frigatebird breed in only one place?
It nests only on Christmas Island, so the entire breeding population is concentrated in one small area, making it highly vulnerable to local threats.
Why is it Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite its tiny breeding range, past habitat disturbance, and pressures such as pollution and introduced species. See the IUCN Red List.