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

BirdUp · Species

Grey Noddy

Anous albivitta(Bonaparte, 1856)

Updated 21 March 2026

Origin: Native
Order
CHARADRIIFORMES
Family
Laridae
Genus
Anous

At a glance

The Grey Noddy, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

The grey noddy or grey ternlet is a seabird belonging to the family Laridae. It was once regarded as a pale morph of the blue noddy but is now usually considered to be a separate species.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Wingspan
46 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Grey Noddy?

The Grey 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

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

5 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Grey Noddy live in Australia?

The Grey Noddy is native to Australia, recorded across 6 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingSubtropical South Pacific from Lord Howe and Norfolk is. (far east of Australia), Kermadec Is. (north-east of New Zealand) to south-east Polynesia and is. far west of north Chile

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Vagrant
  • Breeding

4 regions recorded