Black Skimmer

The Black Skimmer is one of the most distinctive birds along American coastlines, instantly recognizable for its extraordinary bill and its habit of flying low over calm water with the lower mandible slicing the surface. It is the largest of the world's three skimmer species.

Appearance

Adults have black upperparts and a white forehead and underparts, with a large, laterally compressed bill that is red at the base and black toward the tip. The lower mandible is notably longer than the upper, a unique feature among birds, and the legs are short and red.

Key field marks

• Oversized bill with the lower mandible distinctly longer than the upper
• Bright red bill base fading to black at the tip
• Black upperparts contrasting with white underparts and forehead
• Short red legs
• Low, buoyant flight just above the water surface while foraging

Similar species

No other bird in its range shares the Black Skimmer's uniquely elongated lower mandible, making it essentially unmistakable once seen well. In flight, its black-and-white pattern can suggest a large tern, but the bill shape and low skimming flight are diagnostic.

Habitat and range

Black Skimmers breed along sandy and shelly beaches, sandbars, and barrier islands from the United States coasts south through Central America and much of South America. They favor calm, sheltered waters such as estuaries, lagoons, and bays for foraging.

Northern populations are migratory, moving south to warmer coastal waters in winter, while populations in the tropics tend to be resident.

Behavior

Black Skimmers feed in a spectacular fashion, flying low with the elongated lower mandible cutting through the water's surface; when it contacts a fish, the bill snaps shut instantly. This technique allows them to feed effectively at dusk, dawn, or even at night when fish are less able to see and evade the approaching bird.

Voice

The call is a series of short, barking "kip" or "yip" notes, often given in flight or when alarmed near the colony.

Nesting and breeding

Skimmers nest colonially on open sand or shell beaches, scraping a shallow depression with no lining, and typically lay three to five eggs. Chicks are notable for hatching with mandibles of equal length; the lower bill only grows longer than the upper as the young bird matures and begins to feed itself.