Lesser Noddy
Anous tenuirostris
The Lesser Noddy (Anous tenuirostris) is a rare skimmers, noddies, terns, and gull found in 19 countries, weighing about 112 g. The lesser noddy, also known as the sooty noddy, is a seabird in the family Laridae.










About the Lesser Noddy
The lesser noddy, also known as the sooty noddy, is a seabird in the family Laridae. It is found near the coastlines of Comoros, Kenya, India, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia, Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The lesser noddy is 30–34 cm (12–13 in) in length with a wingspan of 58–63 cm (23–25 in) and a weight of 97–120 g (3.4–4.2 oz). The plumage is brownish black. The forehead and crown are lighter in colour. This species is smaller and slightly paler than the similar black noddy and has pale rather than dark lores.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Mozambique, Pakistan, Mayotte, Wallis & Futuna.
When to see it
Best months: February, March, April, May, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in August. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Lesser Noddy?
- The lesser noddy is 30–34 cm (12–13 in) in length with a wingspan of 58–63 cm (23–25 in) and a weight of 97–120 g (3.4–4.2 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Lesser Noddy?
- The Lesser Noddy is a medium sized bird weighing about 112 g.
- Where can you see a Lesser Noddy?
- The Lesser Noddy occurs in 19 countries, including the Seychelles, Mauritius, India, Australia and the Maldives.
- What birds look similar to a Lesser Noddy?
- The Lesser Noddy is most easily confused with the Grey Noddy, the Blue Noddy and the Black Noddy.
- Is the Lesser Noddy endangered?
- The Lesser Noddy is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Lesser Noddy for real
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