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.
Critically Endangered | Endangered | Vulnerable |
---|---|---|
- | - | A2bce; B2ab(ii,iv,v) |
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 |
Migratory status | full migrant | Forest dependency | does not normally occur in forest |
Land-mass type | Average mass | - |
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 | - |
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 | 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 |
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 |
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 |
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 | ||||||
|
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Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Medium Impact: 6 | ||||||
|
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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 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
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 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
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 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
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 | ||||||
|
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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 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
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 | ||||||
|
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Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
Future | Minority (<50%) | Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
|
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.