4 
COMMON & HAWAIIAN NODDIES 
Both the Common Noddy (or 
Brown Noddy) and the Black Noddy 
(White-capped, or Hawaiian Noddy) 
are common birds of the tropical 
seas. The Common Noddy, about fif- 
teen inches long, is a dark brown 
tern with a greyish-white cap and a 
rounded tail. The Black Noddy is 
smaller, about thirteen inches long, 
and at times is difficult to distin- 
guish from the Common Noddy. Under 
optimum viewing conditions, however, 
the Black Noddy’s darker, almost 
blackish coloration, whiter cap, 
and (in some subspecies) grayer 
tail, enable an experienced obser- 
ver to tell them apart. 
Both species of noddy have 
harsh, and to some ears, unpleasing 
calls. The larger species often 
gives a harsh rasping "karrk" or 
"gaah" while its smaller relative 
utters a quieter, higher pitched 
"kek" or M chrrr M . 
Despite their similarity of 
appearance the two noddies have 
quite different nesting habits. On 
flat treeless islands of the Central 
Pacific the Common Noddy nests 
either on the ground or close to it, 
using no nest materials or build- 
ing a very sketchy nest with 
a few leaves of grass or other 
plant. On islands which support 
coconuts such as Palmyra Atoll in 
the Line Islands, they often go to 
the other extreme and build bulky 
leaf nests at the base of the palm 
fronds. The Black Noddies, however, 
almost always build solid nests 
composed of leaves, grass, seaweed, 
or feathers liberally cemented to- 
gether with their own guano. In 
addition, they apparently never 
nest on the ground but prefer to 
nest on rocky cliffs or in the tops 
of tall trees. On flat, poorly 
vegetated islands such as McKean 
Island in the Phoenix group, very 
few Black Noddies nest at all, and 
those that do, utilize whatever af- 
fords the nest some elevation. 
Both species feed on fish and 
squid, hovering over the ocean and 
swooping down to take tidbits off 
its surface. During these pelagic 
forays the noddies infrequently 
alight on the water but will readi- 
ly perch on any piece of driftwood 
or other floating debris that may 
be present. One Common Noddy seen 
on a POBSP survey chose a most un- 
savory perch, the floating carcass 
of a dead shearwater. 
The name "Noddy’' which the two 
species share, is derived from a 
behavior pattern which frequently 
occurs when two birds meet one 
another. The first bird quickly 
dips its head to show its white cap 
to the other, who, solemnly in his 
turn, repeats the greeting. Be- 
tween birds that are mated this 
nodding usually ends amicably but 
if the birds are strangers, a fight 
often results. 
- Roger B. Clapp 
WMMMMmmwmmvM 
o The Pacific Bird Observer is a ■ 
§ bi-monthly newsletter distrib- ! 
g uted to collaborators of the ! 
Pacific Ocean Biological Sur- ; 
^ vey Program of the Smithsonian; 
Institution in order to promote 
^ the understanding of birds and 
! their relation to man in the 
.Pacific. 
