The Christmas sandpiper or Kiritimati sandpiper is an extinct species of small shorebird in the family Scolopacidae. It became extinct some time in the first half of the 19th century. It was endemic to Christmas Island, since 1919 a part of Kiribati. It is known solely from a single contemporaneous illustration, and a description by William Anderson, both made during the third circumnavigation voyage commanded by Captain James Cook, which visited the atoll of Christmas Island between 24 December 1777 and 2 January 1778.
Region
Central Pacific (Line Islands)
Typical Environment
Endemic to the coral atoll of Kiritimati, occupying sandy shores, lagoon margins, and coastal scrub. It likely foraged along reef flats and beach wrack lines, and also within low, open vegetation such as pandanus and coconut groves. As with related island sandpipers, it probably used both intertidal zones and adjacent terrestrial microhabitats for feeding. No evidence suggests it occurred beyond Kiritimati.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 10 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Christmas (Kiritimati) sandpiper was a small island shorebird known only from an 18th‑century illustration and a description made during Captain James Cook’s third voyage. It was confined to Kiritimati (Christmas Island) in today’s Kiribati and likely disappeared in the early 1800s, probably after the introduction of predators such as rats and cats. Its habits are inferred from its close relative, the Tuamotu sandpiper, suggesting a tame, largely terrestrial lifestyle.
Temperament
tame and terrestrial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats; low, direct flights over open ground
Social Behavior
Likely occurred singly, in pairs, or small parties, foraging on open flats and along shorelines. Nesting was probably in simple ground scrapes, as in related Prosobonia. Little else is documented from the brief historical encounter.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are undocumented; it likely gave soft, high peeping notes and short trills similar to small island sandpipers. Calls were probably used for contact and alarm at close range.
