Photo: Angela K. Kepler / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Blue Noddy
Anous ceruleus
Blue Noddy (Anous ceruleus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Blue Noddy (Anous ceruleus) is a member of the Laridae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 53 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Anous
- Species ceruleus
Where it lives
Tropical Pacific Ocean islands from far southeastern Japan and Micronesia to Northwestern Hawaiian Is., Marquesas and Gambier Is. (eastern Tuamotu Arch., eastern Polynesia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 53 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Blue 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 Blue Noddy is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Blue Noddy (Anous ceruleus) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers PO tropical Pacific Ocean islands from far se Japan and Micronesia to Northwestern Hawaiian Is., Marquesas and Gambier Is. (e Tuamotu Arch., e Polynesia).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 53 g, with a wing length of about 17.6 cm and a tail of around 9.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 33.8 million km² — a very large global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Blue Noddy?
The Blue Noddy is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 53 g.
Where does the Blue Noddy live?
The Blue Noddy is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering PO tropical Pacific Ocean islands from far se Japan and Micronesia to Northwestern Hawaiian Is., Marquesas and Gambier Is. (e Tuamotu Arch., e Polynesia), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Blue Noddy belong to?
The Blue Noddy (Anous ceruleus) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Blue Noddy eat?
The Blue Noddy hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Blue Noddy migrate?
The Blue Noddy is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Blue 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.
How large is the Blue Noddy's range?
The Blue Noddy has a mapped global range of about 33.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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