Photo: Gregg Yan / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

Black Noddy

Anous minutus

Black Noddy (Anous minutus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Oceans & Seabirds.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of Brazil Birds of Colombia Birds of Costa Rica Birds of Ecuador Birds of Indonesia Birds of India Birds of Japan Birds of Mexico Birds of New Zealand

By family

Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Australia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Brazil Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Colombia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Costa Rica Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Ecuador Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Indonesia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of India Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Japan Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Mexico Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of New Zealand

See what's near you right now

The Black Noddy (Anous minutus) is a member of the Laridae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 112 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
Genus Anous
Species minutus

Where it lives

Tropical and subtropical Pacific and Atlantic oceans, very locally northeastern Indian and Caribbean Sea

Oceans & Seabirds

Quick facts

Weight: 112 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Laridae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Black Noddy hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.

Migration

The Black Noddy is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Black Noddy (Anous minutus) is a member of the Laridae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers PO, AO tropical and subtropical Pacific and Atlantic oceans, very locally ne Indian and Caribbean Sea.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 112 g, with a wing length of about 22.2 cm and a tail of around 11.4 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 6.6 million km².

Songs & calls

Black Noddy — Call

Recorded by Sreekar Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Black Noddy?

The Black Noddy is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 112 g.

Where does the Black Noddy live?

The Black Noddy is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering PO, AO tropical and subtropical Pacific and Atlantic oceans, very locally ne Indian and Caribbean Sea, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Black Noddy belong to?

The Black Noddy (Anous minutus) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Black Noddy eat?

The Black Noddy hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Black Noddy migrate?

The Black Noddy is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Black Noddy endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Black Noddy make?

1 real field recording of the Black Noddy — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Black Noddy's range?

The Black Noddy has a mapped global range of about 6.6 million km².