The Brown Noddy is a tropical tern with inverted coloration — dark brown body with a pale gray cap, the opposite of most terns. It is named for its nodding courtship display. It breeds on the Dry Tortugas in Florida and on tropical Pacific islands. Unlike most terns, it picks prey from the water surface rather than diving. It nests in shrubs rather than open sand.
Best time to see a Brown Noddy
The best time to see a Brown Noddy is March–June, when about 67% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 640 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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Recent Brown Noddy sightings near you
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