Grey noddy
Seabird once considered a morph of the blue noddy.
The grey noddy (Anous albivitta), also called the grey ternlet, is a seabird in the family Laridae. It was previously classified as a pale colour variant of the blue noddy (Anous ceruleus), but is now generally accepted as a distinct species. French ornithologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte gave the first scientific description in 1856, naming it Procelsterna albivitta. The species name albivitta combines the Latin words for "white" and "band" or "head-band."
This bird was once placed in the genus Procelsterna. A 2016 molecular study showed that all five noddies form a single evolutionary group, with the grey and blue noddies inside Procelsterna sitting within the genus Anous. The researchers recommended merging all noddies into Anous, making Procelsterna a junior synonym. Three subspecies are recognized: A. a. albivitta, found on Lord Howe, Norfolk, and Kermadec Islands, plus Tonga; A. a. skottsbergii, on Henderson, Easter, and Salas y Gómez Islands; and A. a. imitatrix, on San Ambrosio and San Félix Islands.
Measuring 28–31 cm long with a wingspan of 46–60 cm and weighing about 75 grams, the grey noddy has a fairly long, notched tail. Its pale grey plumage is nearly white on the head and underparts, but darker on the back, tail, and wings. The wings have dark tips, a white rear edge, and are mostly white underneath. The black eye looks large because of a black patch in front of it, with a white patch behind. Its thin, pointed bill is black, and the legs and feet are black except for pale yellow webs. Juveniles are browner with darker, more contrasting flight feathers. The bird is usually silent but makes a soft, purring call.
It lives in subtropical and warm temperate waters of the south Pacific Ocean. Subspecies A. a. albivitta breeds on Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, northern New Zealand (especially the Kermadec Islands), and southern Tonga. A. a. skottsbergii breeds on Henderson, Easter, and Sala y Gómez Islands. A. a. imitatrix breeds on the Desventuradas Islands off Chile. Specimens have also been recorded in Australia, the Pitcairn Islands, San Ambrosio and San Félix Islands, and the Ellice Islands.
Feeding occurs in shallow water near breeding colonies, with large flocks sometimes numbering thousands. The birds hover and drop to pick food from the surface. Plankton makes up most of the diet, along with small fish. Breeding happens in colonies on
- Scientific name
- Anous albivitta
- Family
- Laridae
- Length
- 28–31 cm
- Wingspan
- 46–60 cm
- Weight
- about 75 grams
- Subspecies
- 3 recognized
- First described
- 1856 by Charles Lucien Bonaparte
Lore & Background
The grey noddy was first formally described by French ornithologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1856 under the binomial name Procelsterna albivitta. The specific name albivitta comes from the Latin abus for 'white' and vitta for 'band' or 'head-band'. It was formerly placed in the genus Procelsterna, but a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2016 found that the five noddies formed a single clade, with the grey noddy and blue noddy nested within the genus Anous. The authors proposed merging all noddies into Anous, making Procelsterna a junior synonym.
Three subspecies are recognized: A. a. albivitta (Lord Howe, Norfolk and Kermadec Islands, Tonga); A. a. skottsbergii (Henderson, Easter, and Isla Salas y Gómez Islands); and A. a. imitatrix (San Ambrosio and San Félix Islands). The grey noddy is 28–31 cm long with a wingspan of 46–60 cm and a weight of about 75 grams. Its plumage is pale grey, almost white on the head and underparts, with dark wing tips and a white hind edge. The eye is black with a black patch in front and a white patch behind. The thin, pointed bill is black, and legs and feet are black apart from pale yellow webs.
Reader's Guide
The grey noddy is a significant species in the taxonomy of noddies, having been reclassified from a morph of the blue noddy to a separate species. Its inclusion in a 2016 molecular phylogenetic study helped clarify the evolutionary relationships among noddies, leading to the proposed merger of the genus Procelsterna into Anous. This taxonomic revision underscores the importance of genetic analysis in resolving long-standing classification disputes.
The species breeds in subtropical and warm temperate waters of the south Pacific Ocean, with colonies on remote islands such as Lord Howe, Norfolk, Kermadec, Henderson, Easter, and the Desventuradas Islands. Its feeding behavior—hovering over shallow water and picking plankton and small fish from the surface—and its colonial nesting habits, where a single egg is incubated by both parents for about 32 days, contribute to its ecological role in marine ecosystems. The grey noddy's soft, purring call and pale plumage distinguish it from related species, and its presence across a wide range of Pacific islands makes it a subject of interest for ornithologists studying seabird distribution and conservation.
Did You Know?
- The grey noddy was first described by French ornithologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1856.
- Its specific name albivitta means 'white band' in Latin.
- A 2016 molecular phylogenetic study proposed merging the genus Procelsterna into Anous.
- The grey noddy lays a single whitish egg with dark markings, incubated by both parents for about 32 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Grey Noddy?
The Grey Noddy (Anous albivitta) is a small seabird in the family Laridae, often referred to as the grey ternlet. It stands roughly 28–31 cm long, has a wingspan of 46–60 cm, and tips the scale at about 75 grams.
How is the Grey Noddy different from the Blue Noddy?
For many years the Grey Noddy was lumped in as a pale-coloured morph of the Blue Noddy (Anous ceruleus), but it is now broadly accepted as a fully separate species. A 2016 molecular phylogeny confirmed that all five noddies belong to one evolutionary clade, cementing the Grey Noddy's independent standing.
Who first described the Grey Noddy and what does its name mean?
French ornithologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte published the original scientific account in 1856 under the name Procelsterna albivitta. The epithet 'albivitta' is a Latin pairing of 'white' and 'band,' a nod to the bird's pale head-marking.
How many subspecies of Grey Noddy are recognized?
Three subspecies are currently acknowledged within Anous albivitta. Despite the species' modest size, geographic variation across its Pacific range is significant enough to support this three-way split.
Why was the Grey Noddy moved out of the genus Procelsterna?
Bonaparte's 1856 description placed the bird in Procelsterna, but later taxonomic revisions regrouped the noddies under the genus Anous. This reassignment reflects a more accurate picture of the species' relationships within the broader tern family.
More in Birds of the Pacific Ocean 1-24
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