Anous ceruleus

Overview

The Anous ceruleus, commonly known as the blue noddy or hinaokū, is a seabird belonging to the family Laridae. It is also referred to as the blue-grey noddy.

Identification

• 25–28 cm in length with a wingspan of 46–60 cm
• Specific name ceruleus denotes a dark blue colouration

Habitat

Found in open, shallow seas within tropical and subtropical regions. Its range includes American Samoa, the Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Hawaii, with recorded vagrants in Australia and Japan.

Did you know?

A bird observed in 1902 was initially described as a new species called the Necker Island tern before being reclassified as a subspecies of the blue noddy.