Black Skimmer
Rynchops niger
The Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) is a common skimmers, noddies, terns, and gull found in 38 countries, weighing about 298 g. The black skimmer is a tern-like seabird, one of three similar bird species in the skimmer genus Rynchops in the gull family Laridae.
About the Black Skimmer
The black skimmer is a tern-like seabird, one of three similar bird species in the skimmer genus Rynchops in the gull family Laridae. It breeds in North and South America. Northern populations winter in the warmer waters of the Caribbean and the tropical and subtropical Pacific and Atlantic coasts, but South American populations make only shorter movements in response to annual floods which extend their feeding areas in the river shallows.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The black skimmer is the largest of the three skimmer species. It measures 40–50 cm (16–20 in) long with a 107–127 cm (42–50 in) wingspan. This species ranges from 212 to 447 g (7.5 to 15.8 oz), with males averaging about 349 g (12.3 oz), as compared to the smaller females 254 g (9.0 oz). The basal half of the bill is red, the rest mainly black, and the lower mandible is much-elongated. The eye has a dark brown iris and catlike vertical pupil, unique for a bird. The legs are red. The call is a barking kak-kak-kak. Adults in breeding plumage have a black crown, nape and upper body.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in South Africa, St. Martin, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe.
When to see it
The Black Skimmer can be seen all year round, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black Skimmer?
- The black skimmer is the largest of the three skimmer species. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black Skimmer?
- The Black Skimmer is a medium sized bird weighing about 298 g.
- Where can you see a Black Skimmer?
- The Black Skimmer occurs in 38 countries, including the United States, Chile, Peru, Brazil and Mexico.
- What birds look similar to a Black Skimmer?
- The Black Skimmer is most easily confused with the African Skimmer and the Indian Skimmer.
- Is the Black Skimmer endangered?
- The Black Skimmer is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Black Skimmer for real
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