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    Brown noddy

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    They bob their heads up and down as they fly, which is actually how they earned the nickname “Noddy”

    Charles J. Sharp








      Saved In:


    Brown noddy

    EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE

    They bob their heads up and down as they fly, which is actually how they earned the nickname “Noddy”

    Population 1.2M – 2.1M

    Meet the Brown noddy, a seabird that’s the ultimate ocean nomad. Unlike its land-loving pigeon cousins, the Brown noddy spends most of its life soaring on salty winds, a constant companion to crashing waves. Their plumage is a study in coastal simplicity. Most Brown noddies are rich, chocolate brown all over, blending seamlessly with the vast ocean below. But look a little closer, and you’ll spot their signature feature – a bright white cap, like a splash of sunlight on their head. This makes them stand out against the endless blue sky, especially when they’re gliding gracefully on the ocean currents.

    These birds are more than just graceful gliders; they’re skilled divers too! Unlike most birds that snatch food from the surface, Brown Noddies can plunge headfirst into the water, a feathered blur chasing fish and squid. Their sharp beaks are perfectly designed for grabbing a quick meal, and their webbed feet help them paddle back to the surface in a flash.

    Sadly, these ocean adventurers face some challenges. Pollution in the vast ocean makes it harder for them to find food, and plastic debris can be mistaken for prey, harming them internally. Additionally, some islands they use for nesting are being disturbed by introduced animals, like cats and rats, who prey on their eggs and chicks.

    Distribution

    Country
    Population est.
    Status
    Year
    Comments
    American Samoa
    2020
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Angola
    2020
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Anguilla
    2020
    Breeding
    Antigua & Barbuda
    2020
    Aruba
    2020
    Australia
    2020
    Breeding
    Bahamas
    2020
    Barbados
    2020
    Belize
    2020
    Benin
    2020
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Bermuda
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Bonaire Sint Eustatius And Saba
    2020
    Brazil
    2020
    British Indian T.
    2020
    Breeding
    British Virgin Is.
    2020
    Breeding
    Brunei
    2020
    Cambodia
    2020
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Cameroon
    2020
    Cayman Islands
    2020
    Chile
    2020
    China
    2020
    Christmas Island
    2020
    Breeding
    Cocos Is. (Keeling)
    2020
    Breeding
    Colombia
    2020
    Comoros
    2020
    Congo-Brazzaville
    2020
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Cook Islands
    2020
    Breeding
    Costa Rica
    2020
    Cuba
    2020
    Curaçao
    2020
    Côte D’ivoire
    2020
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Djibouti
    2020
    Dominica
    2020
    Dominican Republic
    2020
    East Timor
    2020
    Ecuador
    2020
    Egypt
    2020
    El Salvador
    2020
    Equatorial Guinea
    2020
    Eritrea
    2020
    Fiji
    2020
    French Guiana
    2020
    French Polynesia
    2020
    Breeding
    French Southern T.
    2020
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Gabon
    2020
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Gambia
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Ghana
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Grenada
    2020
    Guadeloupe
    2020
    Guam
    2020
    Breeding
    Guatemala
    2020
    Guyana
    2020
    Haiti
    2020
    Honduras
    2020
    India
    2020
    Indonesia
    2020
    Jamaica
    2020
    Breeding
    Japan
    2020
    Kenya
    2020
    Kiribati
    2020
    Breeding
    Liberia
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Madagascar
    2020
    Malaysia
    2020
    Maldives
    2020
    Breeding
    Marshall Islands
    2020
    Breeding
    Martinique
    2020
    Mauritius
    2020
    Breeding
    Mayotte
    2020
    Mexico
    2020
    Micronesia
    2020
    Breeding
    Montserrat
    2020
    Mozambique
    2020
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Myanmar
    2020
    Nauru
    2020
    New Caledonia
    2020
    Breeding
    New Zealand
    2020
    Breeding
    Nicaragua
    2020
    Nigeria
    2020
    Niue
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Norfolk Island
    2020
    Breeding
    Nort. Mariana Is.
    2020
    Breeding
    Oman
    2020
    Breeding
    Pakistan
    2020
    Palau
    2020
    Breeding
    Panama
    2020
    Papua New Guinea
    2020
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Peru
    2020
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Philippines
    2020
    Pitcairn
    2020
    Breeding
    Puerto Rico
    2020
    Réunion
    2020
    Saint Barthélemy
    2020
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Saint Helena
    2020
    Saint Lucia
    2020
    Saint Vincent
    2020
    Samoa
    2020
    Seasonality Uncertain
    Saudi Arabia
    2020
    Breeding
    Seychelles
    2020
    Breeding
    Sierra Leone
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Solomon Islands
    2020
    Breeding
    Somalia
    2020
    Breeding
    South Africa
    2020
    Sri Lanka
    2020
    St. Kitts & Nevis
    2020
    Sudan
    2020
    Breeding
    Suriname
    2020
    São Tomé & Príncipe
    2020
    Breeding
    Taiwan
    2020
    Tanzania
    2020
    Breeding
    Thailand
    2020
    Togo
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Tokelau
    2020
    Breeding
    Tonga
    2020
    Breeding
    Trinidad & Tobago
    2020
    Turks & Caicos
    2020
    Breeding
    Tuvalu
    2020
    Breeding
    UAE
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    US Minor Is.
    2020
    Breeding
    US Virgin Islands
    2020
    Breeding
    United States
    2020
    Breeding
    Vanuatu
    2020
    Breeding
    Venezuela
    2020
    Vietnam
    2020
    Wallis & Futuna
    2020
    Breeding
    Yemen
    2020

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    Get to know me

    Terrestrial / Aquatic

    Altricial / Precocial

    Polygamous / Monogamous

    Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

    Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

    Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Flock

    Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

    Migratory: Yes / No

    Domesticated: Yes / No

    Dangerous: Yes / No

    EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE
    Least Concern(IUCN)
    World Population 1.2M – 2.1M
    Honorary Patron: BioDB
    Become a Patron

    Threats

    Habitat destruction / Climate change / Freshwater pollution / Marine pollution / Deforestation / Farming / Fishing practices / Poaching & wildlife trade / Invasive species / Parasites & diseases / Noise pollution / Light pollution

    My ID

    Scientific name: Anous stolidus Other names:

    Common noddy

     Number of subspecies: 4 Name of subspecies:

    A. s. galapagensis
    A. s. pileatus
    A. s. ridgwayi
    A. s. stolidus

    Physical traits

    Length: 38 – 45 cm (15 – 18 in) Wingspan: 75 – 86 cm (30 – 34 in) Incubation: 33 – 36 days Eggs: 1 egg
    Habitats: Coastal Marine
    Regions: Africa Asia North America Oceania South America
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