Christmas frigatebird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christmas frigatebird |
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| Male at Jakarta Bay, Indonesia | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Fregata
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| Species: |
andrewsi
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The Christmas frigatebird (Fregata andrewsi) is a special seabird. It is also called the Christmas Island frigatebird. This bird belongs to the frigatebird family. It only lives and breeds on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.
The Christmas frigatebird is a big bird. It has a light body and brownish-black feathers. Its wings are long and narrow. It also has a tail that splits deeply. Its wings can spread about 2.15 meters (7 feet) wide.
Male frigatebirds have a white patch on their belly. They also have a bright red pouch under their chin. This pouch is called a gular sac. Males blow up this red pouch to attract a female mate. Female frigatebirds are a bit bigger than males. They have a white chest and belly.
These birds eat fish. They catch fish, like flying fish, from the ocean's surface while flying. Sometimes, they are "pirates" of the sky. They chase other birds to make them drop their food. Then, the frigatebird catches the food. This bird is in great danger. It is listed as "critically endangered" by a group called the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
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About the Christmas Frigatebird
The Christmas frigatebird is a unique type of seabird. It is known for its amazing flying skills. These birds spend most of their lives flying over the ocean. They only come to land to nest and raise their young.
What Does It Look Like?
The Christmas frigatebird is about 89 to 100 centimeters (35 to 39 inches) long. Its wings can stretch from 205 to 230 centimeters (81 to 91 inches) wide. It weighs around 1.55 kilograms (3.4 pounds).
Adult males are easy to spot. They are all black except for a white patch on their belly. Young birds and females look a bit like the smaller lesser frigatebird. However, they have whiter bellies. They also have longer white marks under their wings.
Where Do They Live?
The Christmas frigatebird only lives on Christmas Island. This island is in the Indian Ocean. They build their nests in only four main places on the island. This makes them very special and rare.
Why Are They in Danger?
The Christmas frigatebird population is very small. In 2003, there were about 1,200 pairs that could breed. But frigatebirds usually breed only every other year. So, the total number of adult birds was thought to be between 3,600 and 7,200.
Because they live on only one island and have a small population, they are at high risk. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature calls them "Critically Endangered." This means they face a very high chance of dying out in the wild. Protecting their home on Christmas Island is very important for their survival.
Images for kids
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Male at Jakarta Bay, Indonesia
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Sunbath photograph of a Christmas Island Frigatebird at Jakarta Bay, Indonesia
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A young Christmas Island Frigatebird at Jakarta Bay, Indonesia
