Black Skimmer

June 20, 2014

Black Skimmer
Rynchops niger

This week’s Bird Finder was written by Milan Bull, Senior Director of Science and Conservation

What it looks like: A large, black and white, tern-like waterbird, the Black Skimmer has a distinctive large red bill. Typically skimmers fly low over the water with the lower mandible cutting the surface hoping to catch small fish. Skimmers are the only birds with the lower mandible longer than the upper. When at rest, they often group together on sand and gravel bars, their black backs and white underparts visible at long distances.

Where to find them: Currently on most days, there are several Black Skimmers resting on the sand bars at our Milford Point Coastal Center, best visible through a spotting scope, but identifiable with good binoculars. They can also be found at Sandy Point, in West Haven, and elsewhere along the coast of Long Island Sound.

How to find them: Scan the offshore bars for a small group of larger black and white birds sitting on the sand. Skimmers are fairly good-sized birds, about 17 inches long, and are generally grouped together.

Interesting facts: Although skimmers can be active during the day, they are most active at dawn and dusk when small fish venture near the water’s surface.

Conservation status: Black Skimmers are listed by the IUCN as a species of Least Concern. However, rising sea levels may impact the beaches and sand bars that they require for nesting in the future. The main threat to skimmers is development or other loss of their beach-nesting habitat, since they nest on exactly the kinds of beaches that people like to vacation on. In addition to habitat loss, skimmer nests can be destroyed by roaming dogs and by vehicles that are allowed to drive on beaches.

Connecticut Audubon Bird Finder is edited by Tom Andersen.
Photo of Black Skimmer taken by Henwell Chou at the Milford Point Coastal Center.