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.
Region
Western and central Indian Ocean
Typical Environment
Breeds and forages around tropical oceanic islands and atolls, especially in the Seychelles, Comoros, Maldives, Mauritius, and along parts of the East African and Arabian coasts. It favors nearshore waters, lagoons, reef edges, and adjacent open ocean. Colonies are typically established on predator-free islets with suitable trees or shrubs for nesting. Outside the breeding season, birds range widely over warm pelagic waters but remain within the Indian Ocean basin.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 100 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The lesser noddy is a small, tropical seabird that nests in large colonies, often in coastal trees like Pisonia and mangroves. Its common name “noddy” comes from the characteristic head-nodding displays used in courtship and pair-bond maintenance. It often associates with predatory fish that drive small prey to the surface, making feeding more efficient.
Temperament
social and colonial
Flight Pattern
buoyant flier with shallow rapid wingbeats and frequent glides
Social Behavior
Breeds in dense colonies, often nesting in trees or shrubs, and occasionally on cliff ledges. Pairs are monogamous and typically lay a single egg per clutch. Adults engage in head-nodding and bill-touching displays to reinforce pair bonds and territorial boundaries around the nest.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Vocalizations are sharp, nasal chatters and scolding notes, often given in excited bursts around colonies. Calls carry over the wind and surf, aiding contact among mates and neighbors in dense nesting areas.
Plumage
Sooty-brown to dusky overall with a paler grey crown that grades to whitish on the forehead and lores. Upperparts are uniform and satin-like; underparts slightly paler. Tail is wedge-shaped with narrow pointed streamers.
Diet
Feeds mainly on small schooling fish, squid, and other marine nekton taken near the surface. Often exploits prey driven upward by tuna or dolphins, snatching items on the wing without deep plunges. Will also take planktonic crustaceans when fish are scarce.
Preferred Environment
Forages over reef fronts, lagoon passes, and nearshore pelagic zones where upwellings or current lines concentrate prey. Commonly feeds in mixed-species flocks with terns and other noddies.
