The black noddy is about 14-15 inches (35.6-38.1 cm) in length with a wingspan of 26-28 inches (66-71.1 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 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 noddies build their nests in trees, using grasses, twigs, and leaves. The female lays a single egg, which both parents take turns incubating for about 36 days.
Once hatched, the chick is fed regurgitated (swallowed and then brought back up) fish by both parents. It fledges at around 36 days old, but the parents continue feeding it for a few more weeks.
The oldest recorded black noddy lived to be at least 25 years old.
During courtship, black noddys bob their heads and exchange fish.
The black noddy is also known as the Hawaiian or white-capped noddy.
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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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