Brown Noddy Similar Species Comparison

Adult

A dark, medium-sized tern of tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. Adult is brown overall, with a white crown that fades to gray on the nape.

Adult

Note long black bill, partial white eyering, and black lores between the bill and eyes.

Adult

A common species of small tropical and subtropical islands in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans. Adult is mostly brown, with black wingtips, a long black bill, and a white crown that fades to gray on the back of the head.

Juvenile

Juvenile has limited white on the forehead and lacks any of the gray tones found on adult.

Adult

Nests in shrubs and trees as well as on cliffs, bare rock, coral, sand, and gravel.

Nests in trees and shrubs, and also on the ground.

A social species that nests in colonies and roosts in groups.

Some nesting colonies contain thousands of breeding pairs.