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A "Skimming" Black Skimmer in CA

Steve Wolfe

May 14, 2014

Black Skimmers are a highly social species that live in colonies along coasts or on large inland bodies of water like the Salton Sea. They feed predominantly on small fish. Perhaps their most noticeable characteristic is a strong, long bill with the lower mandible much longer than the upper. Here's a good look at that strange but well-adapted bill.

Image: Black Skimmer

Skimmers have a very interesting flight style. The up-stroke is long with the down-stroke shallow so that wings do not enter the water. Flying very low - "skimming" - over the water their lower mandible cuts through the water and snaps shut when it feels a fish.

Image: Black Skimmer

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Photos by Steve Wolfe

Watch a BirdNote video of a Black Skimmer skimming

Tags: flight, habitat

Related Resources

More about Skimmers at Audubon Field GuideConservation issues for Black Skimmers

More About These Birds

Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)

Rynchops niger

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