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Black Skimmer

Rynchops niger

Photo by ceherzog
Published on Project Noah
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27.2648, -82.5507

Field Notes

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.

Reference Links:

Black Skimmer, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (17)
ceherzog
Thanks all...I'm pretty crazy about these birds, too.
Liam
One of my favorite birds! Love that first shot!
ceherzog
Thanks all....Sachin, if you look in the other photos in the series you can see their eyes.
Sachin Zaveri
Sign of discipline, wonderful picture It is difficult to find their eyes, can't find their eyes.
ceherzog
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
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
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
Fantastic first photo and great information. Thank you for sharing!
LarryGraziano
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
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.
LarryGraziano
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.....

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Birds of the World
Mission
Shorebirds of the Gulf Coast
Photographed
PublishedOctober 23, 2011

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