General

Black Skimmer: Odd-looking, tern-like bird with black upperparts and white underparts. Bill is bright orange and black-tipped bill with lower mandible longer than upper. Long, slim wings are dark above and silver-gray below. Tail is white with black central feathers. Legs and feet are red. Female is distinctly smaller than male and has smaller bill. Winter adult is similar to breeding adult but has white nape. Juvenile has duller, shorter bill, brown-mottled upperparts, and yellow legs.

Range and Habitat

Black Skimmer: Breeds along Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Massachusetts and Long Island to Florida and Texas. Spends winters north to southern California and Virginia; also in Central and South America. Preferred habitats include sandy or gravelly bars and beaches, shallow bays, estuaries, and salt marsh pools.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"kak-kak-kak", "kur-kur-kur"

Interesting Facts

 The Black Skimmer is the only bird species in the United States that has a larger lower mandible than upper mandible.

 At hatching, the two mandibles are equal in length, but by fledging at four weeks, the lower mandible is already nearly 1 cm longer than the upper.

 Development and increased beach traffic pose a major threat to many of their traditional nesting grounds. Even a slight disturbance in the colony reduces the rate of nesting success.

 A group of skimmers are collectively known as a "conspiracy", "embezzlement", and "scoop" of skimmers.

Author

Gary Owen Dick