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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Laridae
  4. ›
  5. Anous
  6. ›
  7. Black Noddy
Black Noddy
Photo · (c) ian_mcallan, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Black Noddy

Anous minutusBoie, F, 1844

Updated 21 March 2026

Origin: Native
Order
CHARADRIIFORMES
Family
Laridae
Genus
Anous

At a glance

The Black Noddy is a large bird, about 35–40 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
35–40 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Black Noddy look like?

The Black Noddy is a large bird, about 35–40 cm long and weighing 90–144 g.

The black noddy, also known as white-capped noddy, is a species of tern in the family Laridae. It is a medium-sized seabird with black plumage and a white cap that closely resembles the lesser noddy with which it was at one time considered conspecific. The black noddy has slightly darker plumage and dark rather than pale lores.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
35–40 cm
Weight
90–144 g
Wingspan
66 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Black Noddy?

The Black Noddy is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Black Noddy eat?

The Black Noddy feeds on fish/invertebrates, usually foraging in flocks.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Black Noddy live in Australia?

The Black Noddy is native to Australia, recorded across 19 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingPO, AO : tropical and subtropical Pacific and Atlantic oceans, very locally north-east Indian and Caribbean Sea

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Breeding
  • Non-breeding

5 regions recorded