Christmas Frigatebird
Fregata andrewsi
The Christmas Frigatebird (Fregata andrewsi) is a rare frigatebird found in 10 countries, weighing about 1.5 kg. The Christmas frigatebird or Christmas Island frigatebird is a seabird of the frigatebird family Fregatidae which is an endemic breeder to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.
About the Christmas Frigatebird
The Christmas frigatebird or Christmas Island frigatebird is a seabird of the frigatebird family Fregatidae which is an endemic breeder to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. Apart from the Ascension frigatebird, the three other species of frigatebird have much more widely distributed breeding locations.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Christmas frigatebird measures 89–100 cm (35–39 in) in length, has a wingspan of 205–230 cm (81–91 in) and weighs around 1,550 g (3.42 lb). The adult male of this species is easily identified, since he is all black except for a white belly patch. Other plumages resemble those of the smaller lesser frigatebird, but have whiter bellies and longer white underwing spurs.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in India, Taiwan, Australia, Yemen.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Christmas Frigatebird?
- The Christmas frigatebird measures 89–100 cm (35–39 in) in length, has a wingspan of 205–230 cm (81–91 in) and weighs around 1,550 g (3.42 lb). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Christmas Frigatebird?
- The Christmas Frigatebird is a large sized bird weighing about 1.5 kg.
- Where can you see a Christmas Frigatebird?
- The Christmas Frigatebird occurs in 10 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
- What birds look similar to a Christmas Frigatebird?
- The Christmas Frigatebird is most easily confused with the Lesser Frigatebird, the Great Frigatebird and the Magnificent Frigatebird.
- Is the Christmas Frigatebird endangered?
- The Christmas Frigatebird is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Christmas Frigatebird for real
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