Black Skimmer

Rynchops niger Linnaeus, 1758

298 gWeight

The black skimmer (Rynchops niger) is a tern-like seabird, one of three similar bird species in the skimmer genus Rynchops in the gull family Laridae.

Busiest months: April–May and July–August · Most records: United States, Chile, Peru

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Black Skimmer has been recorded at 630 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 35 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

Edwin B. Forsythe NWRUnited States10,642 records
Fort De Soto ParkUnited States10,545 records
South Padre Is. – WBC/Conv. Center/Laguna Madre TrailUnited States8,414 records

More places

Edwin B. Forsythe NWR – Wildlife DriveUnited States7,187 records
IRWD San Joaquin Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary, IrvineUnited States7,158 records
Cape Island – South Cape May MeadowsUnited States6,007 records
Rollover PassUnited States5,887 records
South Padre Is. – Birding and Nature CenterUnited States5,836 records
Bolivar Flats Shorebird SanctuaryUnited States4,457 records
Huguenot Memorial City ParkUnited States4,388 records

Countries and regions with the most records

United States Chile Peru Brazil Colombia Mexico Uruguay Argentina

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The black skimmer (Rynchops niger) is a tern-like seabird, one of three similar bird species in the skimmer genus Rynchops in the gull family Laridae. It breeds in North and South America. Northern populations winter in the warmer waters of the Caribbean and the tropical and subtropical Pacific and Atlantic coasts, but South American populations make only shorter movements in response to annual floods which extend their feeding areas in the river shallows.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Black Skimmer?

The Black Skimmer weighs around 298 g.

Where does the Black Skimmer live?

Its breeding range: North America, Middle America, South America: coastal USA from southern California to western Mexico and Massachusetts to eastern Mexico; river systems of northern, south-central South America to northeastern Argentina. It is most often recorded in United States, Chile and Peru.

When is the best time to see the Black Skimmer?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in April, May, July and August (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Black Skimmer endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Black Skimmer as Least Concern.

What does the Black Skimmer eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the Black Skimmer in?

It belongs to the family Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae), order Charadriiformes.

At a glance

Weight: 298 g
Habitat: Rivers & streams
Diet: Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle: Feeds in the air
Migration: Partial migrant
Conservation: Least Concern

More measurements

Wing: 366 mm
Tail: 130 mm
Bill: 84 mm
Tarsus: 32 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

North America, Middle America, South America: coastal USA from southern California to western Mexico and Massachusetts to eastern Mexico; river systems of northern, south-central South America to northeastern Argentina

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2