May 20th, 2008

The Brown Noddy (Anous stodlidus)


On Ambergris Cay you have the rare opportunity to experience and observe an untouched natural environment. It is always exciting to see birds returning here each year to nest. We begin to see the Brown Noddy in April, on our surrounding Cays. They have come from thousands of miles across the ocean to breed here, in colonies by the thousands. By May each mating couple will lay a single egg that will incubate for 35 to 38 days. We will see the last of these birds by August or even September when they disperse once again, thousands of miles across the ocean.



Look for the Brown noddy feeding in mixed species flocks or floating on the surface of the ocean nearby, gently dipping at the surface to feed on small fish. This bird has dark brown plumage with light or white caps in adulthood. They have dark slender bills and on average, the bird measures 15 inches in length.

Filed under: Naturalist |