Christmas Frigatebird

Christmas Frigatebird
This species is defined as a Review Species . Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page .

Scientific Name: Fregata andrewsi

Malay Name: Simbang Pulau Natal

Chinese Name: 白腹军舰鸟

Range: Breeds on Christmas Island with non-breeder wanders widely across the seas of Southeast Asia to Indochina and south to northern Australia

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 92-102 cm

Identification: Male has overall blackish plumage with contrasting white belly patch and red gular pouch. Female has black hood with white on the rest of underparts and black bar extending from base of forewing to side of breast. Juvenile resembles female but has rufous to brownish white head and black breast-band.

Similar looking species: Lesser Frigatebird

Habitat: Open seas, islets and occasionally stray inland.

Behaviour/Ecology: Typically seen soaring aimlessly in small groups, often following ships.

Local Status: Visitor

Conservation Status: Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2022)

Featured reports: May 2023

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Note that records currently under review are also not displayed, and the list may not be a full list of records of this species in Singapore. For more details, check the database here.

Juvenile Christmas Frigatebird at Singapore Strait. Photo Credit: Con Foley
Juvenile Christmas Frigatebird at Singapore Strait. Photo Credit: Con Foley
Female Christmas Frigatebird at Jakarta. Photo Credit: Wong Lee Hong
Male Christmas Frigatebird at Jakarta. Photo Credit: Wong Lee Hong
Male Christmas Frigatebird at Jakarta. Photo Credit: Wong Lee Hong
Female Christmas Frigatebird at Jakarta. Photo Credit: Wong Lee Hong
External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Christmas Island Frigatebird)

References:

BirdLife International. (2022). Fregata andrewsi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T22697742A210923623.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Christmas Frigatebird. Retrieved on December 14, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/christmas-frigatebird.

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