Birds
There are 23 breeding or resident species of birds on Christmas Island. This includes nine species of seabird (two species and two subspecies are endemic) and 14 land birds (six are recent arrivals).
Owing to its proximity to Southeast Asia, Christmas Island attracts a lot of vagrant species never or rarely recorded in other parts of Australia and its Territories. A handful of migrants and vagrants also arrive from Australia. Some of the most regular migrants include barn swallow (Aug-Apr), common sandpiper (Oct-Mar), oriental cuckoo (Oct-Dec), grey wagtail (Sept-Jan) and yellow wagtail (Sept-Nov).
Land birds
The listing below highlight some key species found in the park. A full listing of the birds can be found in Island explorer's Bird brochure.
Emerald dove Chalcophaps indica natalis
Whist the emerald dove is widely distributed species in Southeast Asia and along the northern and eastern coasts of Australia, the endemic subspecies on Christmas Island is listed as endangered. On Christmas Island, they are frequently seen foraging on lawns and forest tracks. They are quite terrestrial, often searching for fallen fruit on the ground and spending little time in trees except when roosting.
Photo: Ian Montgomery
Christmas Island hawk-owl Ninox natalis
The endemic Christmas Island hawk-owls are primarily insectivorous eating a wide variety of insects and a range of vertebrates including rats, geckos, and Christmas Island white-eyes. The Christmas Island hawk-owl is listed as vulnerable.
Hear the barking call of the hawk-owl here.
More information about the goshawk can be found in the National recovery plan for the Christmas Island hawk-owl Ninox natalis
Photo and sound by Richard Hill and owlpages.com
Christmas Island goshawk Accipiter hiogaster natalis
This endemic and endangered bird is found in both plateau and terrace forest. Not usually seen near settled areas, preferring the forest rather than open ground. For a bird of prey, it is quite tame and will follow walkers in forest. Regularly seen hunting in regrowth vegetation along roadsides but surveys suggest that more goshawks are located within rainforest habitats than in cleared areas.
The goshawk feeds on small mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates.
More information about the goshawk can be found in the National recovery plan for the Christmas Island Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus natalis
Photo: Ian Montgomery
Christmas Island white-eye Zosterops natalis
This bird is the island's most abundant bird, the white eye feeds on fruit, nectar and insects. Zosterops natalis is found only on Christmas Island, though related species occur throughout Asia, the Pacific and Australia.
Seabirds
The listing below highlight some key species found in the park. A full listing of the birds can be found in Island explorer's Bird brochure.
Brown booby Sula leucogaster plotus
The brown booby nests on the ground at the edge of the seacliff and inland cliffs. Christmas Island has one of the largest populations of brown boobies in the world. Abbott's booby (Papasula abbotti - listed as endangered), nests in tall emergent trees of the western and southern plateau rainforest. This forest is the only remaining nesting habitat of Abbott's booby left in the world. Abbott's booby is endemic to the Island.
Red-footed Booby Sula sula
The most numerous sea-bird on the island is the widespread red-footed booby (Sula sula rubripes), which nests in colonies in trees on the shore terraces.
The Red-footed Booby is the smallest of all boobies at about 70 centimetres in length and with a wingspan of up to one metre. It has red legs, and its bill and throat pouch are coloured pink and blue.
Red-tailed tropicbirds Phaethon rubricauda
Wide tropical and sub-tropical distribution. Possibly 1400 breeding pairs on Christmas Island. Nest under bushes beside sea and in holes in first inland cliff. Commonly seen displaying in groups of two to twenty above Settlement. Good viewing spots at the cutting near the George Fam Centre and in front of the Rumah Tinggi Tavern, especially in the middle of the day, when adults partake in showy display flights.
The adult White-tailed Tropicbird is a slender, mainly white bird, 71-80 cm long including the very long central tail feathers, which double its total length.
Greater frigatebird Fregata minor
The Great Frigatebird is a lightly built large seabird up to 105 cm long with predominantly black plumage. The female is larger than the adult male and has a white throat and breast, and the male's scapular feathers have a purple-green sheen. In breeding season, the male is able to distend its striking red gular sac. The widespread great frigatebird nests in colonies in trees on the shore terraces all around the island and the greatest concentrations are around North West Point and the western terraces of South Point.
Common noddy Anous stolidus pileatus
The smallest of the Christmas Island seabirds with a length of up to 42 cm. The noddy is a tropical seabird with a worldwide distribution, there are possibly 5000 breeding pairs on island. The noddies nest on ledges along the seacliff and in trees along the shore terrace.
