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Manatee County

Audubon Society

Brown Noddy

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Name

Brown Noddy

Scientific Name

(Anous stolidus)

Why they are special:
  • A tropical seabird occasionally seen along Florida’s coasts and offshore islands.

  • Noted for its dark plumage and striking white cap on the forehead, giving it a distinctive appearance among terns.

Size and color:
  • Medium seabird, 17–20 inches long with a wingspan of 36–38 inches.

  • Dark brown body with pale forehead, black bill, and grayish legs.

  • Juveniles are darker and more uniformly brown.

Seasonality in Florida:
  • Summer and fall visitor, often following pelagic waters offshore.

Habitat:
  • Coastal waters, islands, and at sea far from shore.

  • Roosts on sandy islands or coral cays.

Diet:
  • Feeds on small fish, squid, and marine invertebrates, captured while flying over water or dipping into the surface.

Behavior:
  • Often seen gliding gracefully over waves, sometimes following fishing boats.

  • Breeds in colonies on remote islands in the Caribbean.

Conservation notes:
  • Populations are stable globally, but local Florida sightings are infrequent.

  • Sensitive to habitat disturbance on breeding islands.

Best time to see:
  • Summer through fall, often offshore or on coastal islands especially at Dry Tortugas National Park.
Fun Fact:
  • Brown Noddies are highly social, often flying in large flocks just above the ocean’s surface.

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