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.
