Black Noddy

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Black Noddy
Black Noddy calling at colony
Black Noddy calling at colony
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Sternidae
Genus: Anous
Species: A. minutus
Binomial name
Anous minutus
Boie, 1844

The Black Noddy Anous minutus is a seabird from the tern family. It resembles the related Brown or Common Noddy, but is smaller with darker plumage, a whiter cap, a longer, straighter beak and shorter tail. It is also called the White-capped Noddy.

The nests of these birds consist on a level platform, often created in the branches of trees by a series of dried leaves covered with bird droppings. One egg is laid each season, and nests are re-used in subsequent years.

The Black Noddy has a worldwide distribution in tropical and subtropical seas, with colonies widespread in the Pacific Ocean and more scattered across the Caribbean, central Atlantic and in the northeast Indian Ocean. At sea it is usually seen close to its breeding colonies within 80 km of shore. Birds return to colonies, or other islands, in order to roost at night.

Contents

[edit] Sub-species

There are seven listed sub-species, including Anous minutus melanogenys and Anous minutus marcusi.

[edit] Gallery

Black Noddy with chick

Black Noddy head

Common Noddy head - note stouter beak, greyer cap

[edit] References

  • BirdLife International (2004). Anous minutus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
  • Guager, V.H. (1999) Black Noddy Anous minutus, in The Birds of North America, No412 (Poole, A. and Gill, F. eds) The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C.

    [edit] External links


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