LaridaeAnous

Brown Noddy

Anous stolidus

42–42 cmLarge
Beak
—
Feet
—
Crest
No crest

Breeds in Lakshadweep and Maldives; also recorded off other coasts. Adult is dark chocolate-brown with pale grey forehead and crown. in flight. shows pale bar across upperwing-coverts and tail is a slightly darker brown ish-black than upper body. Underwing - coverts paler than remiges. Bill stouter, proportionately shorter and noticeably downcurved compared with Black (see Appendix) and Lesser Noddies. Juvenile has browner forehead and crown, and indistinct pale fringes to upperparts. Voice Utters a karrlc or kwok kuok. Pelagic, except when breeding.

Colour

BrownBlackGrey
Average size
42 cm
Habitat
Pelagic, except when breeding.
Behaviour
Breeds in Lakshadweep and Maldives, also recorded off other coasts.

About this bird

Breeds in Lakshadweep and Maldives; also recorded off other coasts. Adult is dark chocolate-brown with pale grey forehead and crown. in flight. shows pale bar across upperwing-coverts and tail is a slightly darker brown ish-black than upper body. Underwing - coverts paler than remiges. Bill stouter, proportionately shorter and noticeably downcurved compared with Black (see Appendix) and Lesser Noddies. Juvenile has browner forehead and crown, and indistinct pale fringes to upperparts. Voice Utters a karrlc or kwok kuok. Pelagic, except when breeding.

Compare size with other birds

Every bird sits between two neighbours — bigger than one, smaller than the other. The sentences below are generated live from the database.

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Brown Noddy is bigger than Long-tailed Duck but smaller than Little Bustard.