Moonring Nature Photography :: Black Skimmer - Species Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Black skimmer has a remarkable bill, with base bright orange-red and black tip. Flexible lower mandible is flattened and longer than the upper, about 1/3 more. Upper mandible is rounded, leaving a space between both. It is the unique bird having vertical pupil, allowing it to reduce them as a simple chap when in front of the sun, or to open as a circle with weak light. Black skimmer has black cap and mantle, contrasting strongly with white underparts and forehead. Upperwings are black, with fine white edge. Underwings are pale. Wings are very long. Legs are orange-red and short. Feet are orange-red and webbed. It has short white tail with black centre feathers. Tail is square or slightly forked. Eyes are dark brown. Both Bec-en-ciseaux noir sexes are similar, with male slightly larger than female, and with longer bill. Juvenile is similar to adult, with mottled black and white back and head.

Habitat and Range

Black skimmer inhabits in coastal marshes, and in sandy shores, shallow bays, inlets and estuaries. Typical roosted areas are situated on public beaches, with human activity, or estuarine sand bars with shorebirds, gulls and terns.

Black skimmer lives in southern North America, Caribbean and South America. It breeds in North and South America. Northern birds winter in Caribbean and South Bec-en-ciseaux noir American birds make some short movements to feed.

Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)

General Information

Habitat and Range




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	Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) General Information Black skimmer has a remarkable bill, with base bright orange-red and black tip. Flexible lower mandible is flattened and longer than the upper, about 1/3 more. Upper mandible is rounded, leaving a space between both. It is the unique bird having vertical pupil, allowing it to reduce them as a simple chap when in front of the sun, or to open as a circle with weak light. Black skimmer has black cap and mantle, contrasting strongly with white underparts and forehead. Upperwings are black, with fine white edge. Underwings are pale. Wings are very long. Legs are orange-red and short. Feet are orange-red and webbed. It has short white tail with black centre feathers. Tail is square or slightly forked. Eyes are dark brown. Both Bec-en-ciseaux noir sexes are similar, with male slightly larger than female, and with longer bill. Juvenile is similar to adult, with mottled black and white back and head. Habitat and Range Black skimmer inhabits in coastal marshes, and in sandy shores, shallow bays, inlets and estuaries. Typical roosted areas are situated on public beaches, with human activity, or estuarine sand bars with shorebirds, gulls and terns. Black skimmer lives in southern North America, Caribbean and South America. It breeds in North and South America. Northern birds winter in Caribbean and South Bec-en-ciseaux noir American birds make some short movements to feed.