Black Skimmer

Rynchops niger

Description:

The remarkable bill of the Black Skimmer 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. Cornell Lab

Habitat:

sandy shore: Siesta Beach

Notes:

The 1st shot shows the thinness of the bill in a front on view.

Species ID Suggestions

17 Comments

ceherzog 12 years ago

Thanks all...I'm pretty crazy about these birds, too.

alicelongmartin 12 years ago

Claire, these are superb pictures! Love them!

Stian Waaler 12 years ago

Wow, that's some amazing birds!

Liam 12 years ago

One of my favorite birds! Love that first shot!

ceherzog 12 years ago

Thanks all....Sachin, if you look in the other photos in the series you can see their eyes.

Sachin Zaveri 12 years ago

Sign of discipline, wonderful picture

It is difficult to find their eyes, can't find their eyes.

ThePinappleMan 12 years ago

awesome series

j.mironczyk 12 years ago

Very nice shot.

ceherzog 12 years ago

I had absolutely no idea that their beaks were razor thin like this until I took the photo...mostly when you observe them the beaks look huge & fat!

Thanks all

ceherzog 12 years ago

Thanks for the comments and info. Maybe you two from Costa Rica will run into each other in the forest...or at the beach.

MatthewKritzer 12 years ago

Spent many good moments on Sanibel and Captiva...though from Kissimmee area...I've lived in SW Costa Rica for the last five years...nice first photo...

Ariana 12 years ago

Fantastic first photo and great information. Thank you for sharing!

LarryGraziano 12 years ago

I lived there for ten years... Mostly on Captiva. I live in NW Costa Rica and have been for the last ten years. I am sure now that autumn is in full swing there are more and more birds each week. The white pelicans are usually the last to arrive, usually, in late November.

ceherzog 12 years ago

lgCostaNut Do you live on Sanibel...really too bad about your loss...it did seem as though Charlies destruction was worse other places than Sanibel. Is the birding good at JD Darling right now? I've been thinking about a trip.

misako 12 years ago

great series!

LarryGraziano 12 years ago

One of my favorite birds of all time. You can see them feeding nearly everyday during winter in the J.N. Ding Darling Wildlife refuge. I had an amazing shot on film of these guys feeding. Lost the film to Hurricane Charly.....