The black noddy is about 14-15 inches (35-37 cm) in length with a wingspan of 26-28 inches 66-72 cm.
It has black to brown feathers and a white cap. It has black legs and feet; a long, straight, thin, pointed black bill; and a forked gray tail.
The black noddy is also known as the Hawaiian or white-capped noddy.
The black noddy is found on the open ocean and on coastal islands.
The black noddy’s diet is made up of small fish and aquatic invertebrates that are found close to the surface of the water.
Black noddy nests are built in trees with grasses, twigs, and leaves. The female lays one egg, and incubation lasts about 36 days. Both the male and the female incubate the egg.
Both parents feed the chick regurgitated fish. The chick fledges when it is about 36 days old. Its parents continue to feed it for another couple of weeks.
The oldest black noddy on record lived to be at least 25 years old.
During courtship, black noddys bob their heads and exchange fish.
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In the United States, the black noddy is found in the Dry Tortugas off the coast of Florida and in Hawaii.
It can also be found in tropical areas of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
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