| Black Noddy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Family: | Laridae |
| Genus: | Anous |
| Species: | Anous minutus |
The Black Noddy or White-capped Noddy (Anous minutus) is a medium-sized seabird in the family Laridae.
Description[]
The Black Noddy is 35 to 37 cm (13.8 to 14.6 in) in length and weighs 98 to 144 g (3.5 to 5.1 oz). It has a mostly dark plumage with a white cap as its common names imply. Under each eye, there is a small white crescent, and above each eye, there is a white spot. The sharply pointed bill is black. The fully webbed feet in most subspecies is black but orange in melanogenys.
Voice[]
It harshly shouts “kir” and rattles “chor”. A screeching "krik-rik-rik" can sometimes be heard in flight.
Behavior[]
Feeding[]
Black Noddies only hunt during the day, from early morning until just before dusk. Their diet consists mainly of fish, which they grab from the surface of the water. However, they also grab small aquatic animals from the waves near the coast. They fly very quickly with great agility.
Breeding and Nesting[]
The Black Noddy's nest is built on tree branches by an accumulation of droppings and leaves. Each breeding season, one egg is laid per breeding pair and the nests are reused during successive breeding seasons. The birds are usually found within 50 miles of their breeding colony. They always spend the night on land, which can be in their breeding colony, but also on any other island within their reach.
Distribution and Habitat[]
The species is distributed throughout the world in tropical and subtropical waters. The colonies are located in the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean, the central Atlantic and the northeastern Indian Ocean. In the open sea, birds are found at a distance of up to 80 km from the coast.