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Project Noah Nature School
Rynchops niger
This bird is a medium to large bird with a long red and black bill. It has striking black and white plumage with white underparts and black above with a black cap. Legs are short and red. Wings are very long, relatively narrow, and pointed.
Coastlines, islands, etc. where they often congregate in loose groups.
The bill is what really sets this bird apart. The lower half of the bill is much longer than the top mandible. As the bird skims over the water, it opens its bill so the longer lower mandible skims through the surface of the water (hence the name "skimmer"). Any prey that is struck by the lower mandible is snapped up.
Spotted on Feb 21, 2008
Submitted on May 23, 2011
4 Comments
Thanks for the kind words and a fun story Laura.
Lovely shots Gordon & great story Laura! :)
My parents bought me a bird book when I was really little, which I would just sit and read... the black skimmer was in it, but for some reason, the very young child that I was read it as black "schemer" (probably in my mind skimmer=skeemer or something). Ever since, I've been entirely suspicious of the birds!! Very unusual looking, and excellent pictures Gordon :)
Great shots and very cool birds.