Noddy

Noddies are members of the tern family Sternidae in the genera Anous, Procelsterna, and Gygis. They are a tropical group, characterised by the notch-wedge shaped (not forked) tail; coastal and pelagic oceanic. Studies of mtDNA sequences (Bridge, 2005) have shown that the noddies are at least 2 groups that split off early from the ancestral terns at different points of time; the relationships of Procelsterna were not researched for lack of samples. It seems to represent either a third lineage linking the noddies and the marsh terns, or is closely related to Gygis.

Genus Anous
 * Brown Noddy or Common Noddy, Anous stolidus
 * Black Noddy, Anous minutus
 * Lesser Noddy, Anous tenuirostris
 * Blue-grey Noddy / Blue Noddy, Anous cerulea
 * Grey Noddy, Anous albivitta

This genus forms part of the Laridae group (gulls, terns and skimming birds).

These birds are dark-plumaged terns which inhabit tropical oceans. They nest in colonies.

The female lays one egg in each breeding season.

These birds feed on small fish, which they catch by plunge diving.

Etymology
Anous is Greek for "stupid" or "unmindful" (Harrison, 1990; see also nous); stolidus means "impassive" in Latin. These birds are often unwary and were well known to sailors for their apparent indifference to hunters or predators. They find safety in enormous numbers.