Black Skimmer: Bird Finder for July 2

Black Skimmer
Rynchops niger

by Frank Gallo
Black Skimmers are one of three species of skimmers found world-wide. The others are the Indian Skimmer and the African Skimmer, both of which look very similar to our Black Skimmer. Black Skimmers have a rather floppy flight style, but feed by skimming gracefully over the water, beak submerged, to snatch up fish. They are often active at dusk and dawn and will feed into the night. Their call is a rather dog-like bark.

What it looks like: Black Skimmers are a large modified tern, nearly as long as a Royal Tern, black above, white below, with a large head, white forehead, and very long wings (44 inches). Their black-tipped red-based bill is unique among Connecticut’s birds, in having the lower mandible longer than the upper. Their pinkish-red legs are short, giving them a rather squat appearance as they stand on the beach.

Where to find it: The sandbars at our Coastal Center at Milford Point in summer are probably the most reliable place in the state to see Black Skimmers, especially in June and in late August and early September. They once bred at Sandy Point in West Haven but are now seen there only occasionally. There are occasional sightings by kayakers at the mouth of the Branford River between West Haven and Branford.

When to look: Black Skimmers are generally seen in Connecticut from May to early November.
 
Conservation status: Although Black Skimmers are relatively uncommon and occur very locally in Connecticut, they are considered a species of least concern throughout their range, which extends from New England to South America.

This week’s Connecticut Audubon Society Bird Finder was written by Frank Gallo, associate director of The Connecticut Audubon Society’s Milford Point Coastal Center, and edited by Communications Director Tom Andersen.

Photos courtesy of Henwell Chou (top, at the Milford Point Coastal Center), and Dick Daniels, Carolinabirds.org.