Grey Noddy

The grey noddy or grey ternlet (Anous albivitta) is a seabird belonging to the family Laridae. It was once regarded as a pale morph of the blue noddy (Anous cerulea) but is now usually considered to be a separate species. The grey noddy is 28–31 cm long with a wingspan of 46–60 cm and a weight of about 75 g. The tail is fairly long and notched. The plumage is pale grey, almost white on the head and underparts but darker on the back, tail and wings. The wings have dark tips and a white hind edge and are mainly white underneath. The eye is black and appears large due to the black patch in front of it. There is a white patch behind the eye. The thin, pointed bill is black and the legs and feet are also black apart from pale yellow webs. Juvenile birds are browner than the adults and have darker, more contrasting flight feathers. The grey noddy is usually silent but has a soft, purring call.