Breeds on coastal and tundra habitats. Spends most of its life at sea over the open ocean. Nests in colonies on beaches and rocky shores.
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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Lesser Noddy
Arctic Tern
鸣唱
A sharp, grating 'kree-yah' alarm call. Also gives 'kik-kik-kik' near the nest. Highly aggressive vocally during the Arctic breeding season. Calls are harsh and insistent.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Geographic Range & Migration
Lesser Noddy
Arctic Tern
Breeds in the Arctic and sub-Arctic. Migrates to the Antarctic, experiencing two summers per year. Found on every ocean.
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Conservation Status Comparison
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保护状况
Least Concern
Lesser Noddy
Least Concern
Arctic Tern
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Lesser Noddy
Arctic Tern
羽毛
Pale grey upperparts, white underparts with a black cap. Blood-red bill and short red legs. Deeply forked tail streamers. Winter adults lose the full black cap.
喙
Slender, pointed, bright red bill
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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Lesser Noddy: 30–34 cm, smaller and darker than Brown Noddy with a whiter cap sharply demarcated from the dark body and a slender bill. Breeds colonially in mangroves and low bushes on islands of the tropical Indian Ocean and western Pacific. Feeds on small fish and invertebrates by dipping to sea surface. Wingspan 58–63 cm. Partly migratory.
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More Birds in Family
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