Ashmore Reef 07 -- Noddies

Noddies

There are three species of Noddies found at Ashmore. Common Noddies were the most numerous, Black Noddies a lot less so and there were a few Lesser Noddies.

Common [Brown] Noddy Anous stolidus

These are the largest of the three noddies here at Ashmore. It is 38-45cm and the brownest too. It has a white cap sharply cut off by a black mark between the bill and eye.

Sometimes you can be alone in a crowd

A juvenile on the left, adult on the right.

Juvenile taking to the wing.

Black Noddy Anous minutus

Black Noddies are 33-36cm and a blackish brown, much darker than Common Noddies. Their white cap is also sharply cut off by their black face between the eye and the bill.

Lesser Noddy Anous tenuirostris

These are 30-34cm long and have a pale grey crown that shades evenly between the eye and bill and down the neck.