Wild Florida Photo - Rynchops niger

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Rynchops niger

BLACK SKIMMER

Florida native

Florida Species of Special Concern
 

Black skimmers are the only North American bird with a lower mandible longer than the upper. Primarily coastal in Central and North America, as far north as the Salton Sea near San Diego on the west coast and Massachusetts on the east coast in the summer. Ranges through much of South America except in the Andes range. Most of the North American breeding occurs along the gulf coast.
Easily identified by the distinctive beak, white underneath and dark on top. Black crown continues down the back of the neck when in breeding plumage (Mar.-Sep.), has a white color during the non-breeding season (Sep.-Mar.). Length 46 cm (18 in) wingspan 112 cm (44 in) males larger than the females.
Graceful flyer,with wingbeats mostly above the body and the head held lower than the tail. Glides just above the water with the lower mandible dipped in the water. When the skimmer encounters a fish, tucks the head down to grab it. Often rests on the ground completely prone with the head stretched forward.
There are only three species of skimmers, Rynchops niger in the Americas, R. flavirostris (African skimmer) on the African continent, andR. albicollis (Indian skimmer) on the Indian subcontinent with small numbers in southeast Asia.

 
Rynchops niger is a member of the Laridae - Gulls, Terns & Skimmers family.
 

Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida

  Peter Alden
An easy-to-use field guide for identifying 1,000 of the state's wildflowers, trees, mushrooms, mosses, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, butterflies, mammals, and much more.

A complete overview of Florida's natural history, covering geology, wildlife habitats, ecology, fossils, rocks and minerals, clouds and weather patterns and night sky. An extensive sampling of the area's best parks, preserves, beaches, forests, islands, and wildlife sanctuaries, with detailed descriptions and visitor information for 50 sites and notes on dozens of others. The guide is packed with visual information — the 1,500 full-color images include more than 1,300 photographs, 14 maps, and 16 night-sky charts, as well as 150 drawings explaining everything from geological processes to the basic features of different plants and animals. For everyone who lives or spends time in Florida, there can be no finer guide to the area's natural surroundings than the National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida.
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Date record last modified:
Aug 26, 2007