VU
Phoenix Petrel Pterodroma alba



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
Brooke, M. de L. 2004. Albatrosses and Petrels Across the World. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
Turbott, E.G. 1990. Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand. Ornithological Society of New Zealand, Wellington.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - A2bce; B2ab(ii,iv,v)

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2022 Vulnerable A2bce; B2ab(ii,iv,v)
2018 Endangered A3bce+4bce
2016 Endangered A3bce+4bce
2012 Endangered A3bce+4bce
2010 Endangered A3b,c,e; A4b,c,e
2008 Endangered A3b,c,e; A4b,c,e
2007 Endangered
2006 Endangered
2004 Endangered
2000 Vulnerable
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 28,800,000 km2 medium
Area of Occupancy (breeding/resident) 460 km2 medium
Number of locations 6-10 -
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 20000-30000 mature individuals medium estimated 2020
Population trend decreasing poor inferred 1989-2023
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 30-49% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 20-29% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 20-29% - - -
Generation length 11.39 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 2-100 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 1-89% - - -

Population justification: The most recent estimate for the species's stronghold on Kiritimati is at least 10,000 pairs (Pierce et al. 2020), equivalent to at least 20,000 mature individuals. This is in addition to surveys recording 100 individuals on Hatuta'a in 2010 (Thibault et al. 2013), 12 individuals on Fatu Huku in 2011 (J.-F. Butaud per J.-C. Thibault in litt. 2012), 10 individuals on Canton in 2011 (Pierce et al. 2020), 12-20 pairs on Oeno in 1997-1998 (Bell and Bell 1998, B. Bell pers. comm 1999) and 200 and 300 pairs on Tabu and Upua respectively in 1999 (D. Watling in litt. 1999). The population size is therefore estimated to fall in the band of 20,000-30,000 mature individuals. The subpopulation structure has not been directly analysed. However, as the species breeds on multiple islands, it is tentatively assumed to form multiple subpopulations. Therefore, the largest subpopulation may be that of Kiritimati, and so there may therefore be 20,000 mature individuals in the largest subpopulation.

Trend justification: This species has a long 3 generation length of 34.17 years (based on Bird et al. 2020). The past trend over three generations is therefore calculated using records between 1986-2021. 

The species’s strong hold, on Kiritimati in the Line Islands, was estimated to support 20,000-25,000 individuals between 1980-1982 (Perry 1980, Garnett 1984). In 2007, it was estimated to hold 2,300-3,800 pairs, or 4,600-7,600 individuals (per J.-C. Thibault in litt. 2012). The most recent estimate places the population at over 10,000 breeding pairs or 20,000 mature individuals between 2010-2015 (Pierce et al. 2020). The figures for the 1980s and 2010-2015 are very similar. It has both been suggested that the estimates from the 1980s may have been too high (M. Rauzon in litt. 1999), and that the recent estimate benefited from improved survey methods as well as an increased conservation effort.  

The motus Tabu and Upua (islets in the main lagoon) supported 50 and 40 pairs respectively in 1993 (Jones undated), and 200 and 300 pairs in 1999 (D. Watling in litt. 1999). It is unclear whether the upward trends on these motus are continuing. In the Phoenix Islands, there were >50 pairs on Canton in 1987 (Teebaki 1987). The species was then not found in surveys in the mid-1990s (Flint and Bailey 1995, Flint et al. 1996), and in 2011, less than 5 pairs were estimated to be present (Pierce et al. 2020). In the Marquesas, 5 pairs were present on Fatu Huku in 1990 (V. Bretagnolle in litt. 1999), and in 2011, 12 birds were observed in the area (J.-F. Butaud per J.-C. Thibault in litt. 2012). On Hatuta’a Island, just one individual was observed in 1987 (Thibault et al. 2013). 250 pairs were estimated in 2007, and that decreased to 100 individuals in 2010 (Thibault et al. 2013).

Overall, the population has declined in the past, and this decline is suspected to fall into the band 30-49% over the past 3 generations.

Conservation efforts have likely ceased declines on Kiritimati, and the stronghold population is likely stable (Pierce et al. 2020). However, the species continues to decline elsewhere, and the presence of invasive rats and cats continue to be an issue. Additionally, sea level rise due to climate change is predicted to cause declines by reducing the available breeding areas (Pierce et al. 2020).

Since 1995, restoration work has been undertaken on the islands to reduce the threats, including invasive species removal, and the species now has an Action Plan (Pierce et al. 2020). While it is likely that declines will continue some way into the future, it is not thought that they will reach the high rates previously feared. The stronghold is also considered to be stable (Pierce et al. 2020), so the future rate of decline is not suspected to be so high, therefore placed in the band of 20-29%.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
American Samoa extant uncertain
Cook Islands extant uncertain
Fiji extant vagrant yes
French Polynesia extant native yes
Kiribati extant native yes
New Zealand extinct uncertain
Niue (to New Zealand) extant uncertain
Pitcairn Islands (to UK) extant native yes
Samoa extant uncertain
Tokelau (to New Zealand) extant uncertain
Tonga extinct native yes
Tuvalu extant uncertain
United States Minor Outlying Islands (to USA) extant uncertain
USA extant uncertain
Wallis and Futuna Islands (to France) extant uncertain

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
French Polynesia Fatu Huku
French Polynesia Hatuta'a
French Polynesia Hatuta'a Marine
French Polynesia Ilots rocheux de Ua Pou
French Polynesia Marquesas Marin
Kiribati Kiritimati (Christmas Island)
Kiribati Kiritimati (Christmas Island) Marine
Kiribati Phoenix Islands Marine
Kiribati Rawaki (Phoenix Island)
Pitcairn Islands (to UK) Oeno Island

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry major breeding
Marine Neritic Pelagic major non-breeding
Marine Neritic Pelagic major breeding
Marine Oceanic Epipelagic (0-200m) major non-breeding
Marine Oceanic Epipelagic (0-200m) major breeding
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Dry major breeding
Altitude 0 - 475 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Species mortality
Climate change & severe weather Habitat shifting & alteration Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Reduced reproductive success
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Anoplolepis gracilipes Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 3
Stresses
Species disturbance, Reduced reproductive success
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Canis familiaris Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Felis catus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 7
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Oryctolagus cuniculus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Unlikely to Return Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Past Impact
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Reduced reproductive success
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Rattus exulans Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Rattus rattus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success
Residential & commercial development Commercial & industrial areas Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Species disturbance, Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Phoenix Petrel Pterodroma alba. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/phoenix-petrel-pterodroma-alba on 06/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 06/12/2024.