Photo: Marion Schneider & Christoph Aistleitner / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Lesser Noddy
Anous tenuirostris
Lesser Noddy (Anous tenuirostris) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Lesser Noddy (Anous tenuirostris) 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 (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 tenuirostris
Where it lives
Tropical and subtropical Indian Ocean is. from Seychelles and Mascarenes to Chagos and Maldives (west-central Indian Ocean) and Houtman Abrolhos Is. (west of WA, western Australia) and Ashmore Reef (northwest of Australia; race?)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 112 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lesser 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 Lesser Noddy is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Lesser Noddy (Anous tenuirostris) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers IO tropical and subtropical Indian Ocean is. from Seychelles and Mascarenes to Chagos and Maldives (wc Indian Ocean) and Houtman Abrolhos Is. (w of WA, w Australia) and Ashmore Reef (nw of Australia; race?).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 112 g, with a wing length of about 21.2 cm and a tail of around 10.5 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 177,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lesser Noddy?
The Lesser Noddy is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 112 g.
Where does the Lesser Noddy live?
The Lesser Noddy is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering IO tropical and subtropical Indian Ocean is. from Seychelles and Mascarenes to Chagos and Maldives (wc Indian Ocean) and Houtman Abrolhos Is. (w of WA, w Australia) and Ashmore Reef (nw of Australia; race?), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Lesser Noddy belong to?
The Lesser Noddy (Anous tenuirostris) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Lesser Noddy eat?
The Lesser Noddy hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Lesser Noddy migrate?
The Lesser Noddy is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Lesser 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 Lesser Noddy make?
1 real field recording of the Lesser 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 Lesser Noddy's range?
The Lesser Noddy has a mapped global range of about 177,000 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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