Black Skimmer

Black Skimmer, adult, breeding plumage

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Black Skimmer, adult, nonbreeding

Black Skimmer, juvenile

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Food
7. Behavior
8. Conservation Status
9. Other Names

The remarkable bill of the Black Skimmer is sets it apart from all other American birds. The large red and black bill is knife-thin and the lower mandible is longer than the upper. The bird drags the lower bill through the water as it flies along, hoping to catch small fish.

Cool Facts

• The Black Skimmer is the only American representative of the skimmer family. The other two, rather similar, species are the African Skimmer and the Indian Skimmer. All use the same unusual feeding method.
• Although the Black Skimmer is active throughout the day, it is largely crepuscular (active in the dawn and dusk) and even nocturnal. Its use of touch to catch fish lets it be successful in low light or darkness.

• At hatching, the two mandibles of a young Black Skimmer are equal in length, but by fledging at four weeks, the lower mandible is already nearly 1 cm longer than the upper.

Description

• Size: 40-50 cm (16-20 in)
• Weight: 212-447 g (7.48-15.78 ounces)

• Medium-sized to large waterbird.
• Long red and black bill; lower half longest.
• Black back and cap.
• Underparts white.
• Very short red legs.
• Long, pointd wings.

Sex Differences

Sexes similar, male slightly larger and with longer bill.

Immature

Similar to adult, but with mottled black-and-white back and head.

Similar Species

• American Oystercatcher in similar habitats and has a large red bill, but it has sturdy legs, short wings, a brown back, and a bold white stripe in the open wing.
• Gulls are bulkier, with shorter wings and bill.
• Terns have mostly white backs and wings and shorter bills.

Sound

A barking "yip."

Range

Range Map

© 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology

About the map

Summer Range

Breeds along coast from Massachusetts and New York southward to southern Mexico, and from Southern California to southern Mexico. Also in South America.

Winter Range

Winters from North Carolina southward to South America.

Food

Small fish.

Behavior

Foraging

Flies along just above water surface and drags lower part of bill through water. When it encounters a fish, it tucks its head and grabs the fish as it flies past.

Conservation Status

Populations were declining in 1970s, but appear to have stabilized in most places.

Other Names

Bec à ciseaux (Louisiana), Bec-en-ciseaux noir (French)
Rayador, Arador, Pico de Tijera (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

Gochfeld, M. and J. Burger. 1994. Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger).In The Birds of North America, No. 108 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists' Union.