The Black Skimmer is a pleasure to see as it slices the water with its elongated lower bill. It skims the surface to catch fish that are there.
These birds live from the southernmost United States through the northern half of South America.
There are only two other species of these unusual birds.
Classification:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Rynchopidae
Genus: Rynchops
Species: R. niger
Photos:
The Sky Skimmer ~ Endangered Black Skimmer
"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky. ~Rabindranath Tagore This endangered Black Skimmer appears to be slicing through the clouds rather than water. The entire frame is water reflected sky and clouds at dawn. View On Black"
Ed. Note: This photo is something you have to see at full size. It is special enough to have been featured on the National Geographic website.
Photo courtesy of William Dalton
Black Skimmer at Work
"North Beach, Fort DeSoto Park, in St. Petersburg. My first visit to this large public beach and wildlife habitat: after hours, and armed only with a Birders World article written by Arthur Morris. There were about a hundred Black Skimmers in a roped-off beach and inlet, as well as many beautiful Laughing Gulls in peak breeding plumage. I could stay only an hour–definitely worth a return trip, soon! (Explore 220, thanks everyone!)"
Photo courtesy of Geoff Coe at www.wildimagesfla.com.
Black Skimmer at Work (Rynchops niger)
"Black skimmers are one of my favorite targets. I caught this one two days ago (July 11) at Ft. Desoto. I’m going again right now. Thanks for looking."
Photo courtesy of van hilliard
Black Skimmer real close…
"A Black Skimmer up close and tight. The bird was so close to me and I was lucky that it was in focus."
Photo courtesy of Gitart
Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)
kevincole posted a photo:. Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger). Once you have seen one you have seen hundreds at Bolsa Chica Conservancy in Huntington Beach California. Read more…
Video:
Commentary:
Black Skimmer at St Pete Beach
These are Black Skimmer flying along the edge of St Pete Beach. It was close to sunset, so the light wasn’t great. Just got this one, and it is cropped. There were people in the water, didn… Read more…
Black Skimmer, Rynchops niger. Every now and then you see something that just amazes you. Something that you could stare at for hours and not even notice. These Black Skimmers are like that. Th… Read more…
Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted): Mystery Bird …
This is a Black Skimmer, an outlandishly long-winged, horizontal, block-headed beachbird. Elegantly black and white in adult plumage, the juveniles have extremely intricate patterns above, reca… Read more…
Black skimmers fly low over the water and skim the surface with their lower bill which is longer than the top bill. When a small fish is encountered, they quickly close their mouth. Its use of touch t… Read more…
